THE COLONIST Published Every-(Mornings). Nelson, Wednesday, May 14, 1890. SUMMARY N ES.

Colonist, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5898, 3 September 1890, Page 3

THE COLONIST Published Every-(Mornings). Nelson, Wednesday, May 14, 1890. SUMMARY N ES.

jPh*. chief topic of- interest, and before which ail others have now become insignificant, is-tha struggle at present £oing on between Eabor and, Capital. For some little time past various bodie3 of employed have been forming Unions and Associations, and a number of these bodies have now federated under the Maritime Council. One very important Union is that of jthe Seamen, another i 3 that of the Wharf Laborers, and yet another the Coal Miners, but even more important in a sense than either of these is the Kailway Servants Association. Then there are the Carters Union, the Cooks and Stewards Union, and the Marine Officers Association, and all of these have federated as one body, whilst there are other Associations, such as the Marine Engineers, the Typographical, and others which are working with, although they do not actually belong to the federated body. A month ago a very serious difficulty! threatened New Zealand, owing to a dispute between the Unions and a Christchurch firm of printers and manufacturing stationers. The rules of the- Typographical Association re- 1 quire that in all printing offices not more than one apprentice to each man, plus two apprentices for each establishment, shall be allowed, but fc was, stated that the firm alluded to was . in the habit, of employing an undue number of boys and girls.. ? lhe Association objected to this, on the ground that an injury was being done these bpys : and girls, who Rafter serving 1 tjieir; term 6t.appretitice?|ip w.ouldjbej unable to obtain similar employment

'elsewhere^ and because. a general following of such a system could not but inflict serious injury to the industrial classes. In order to put a stop to the practices of the firm referred to, it was contemplated to prohibit the handling of all goods consigned to or sent out by the firm, and there was grave danger that the men employed on the Bailways, the seamen, and others would be called out on strike. However, the Maritime Council estimating the injurious effects that must follow such a step, wisely resolved to fight out their battles on different lines. This trouble having been averted, another of equal magnitude came upon us, and this through no difficulty that had arisen in New Zealand. It is necessary, to explain that most oi the Unions previously referred to are allied with the Australian Unions, and it was in consequence of this alliance that the present difficulty extended to New Zealand. Prior, however, to this dispute a difference arose between certain mine owners near Greymouth and their' colliers, and the result has been to intensify the present trouble. The colliery owners intimated to their colliers that the mines were not paying, and suggested that they should accept a reduction of sixpence a ton on coal hewn. The men objected to bearing the whole loss, and contended that the men above ground should participate in the reduction, and after the books of the mine owners had been exhibited and the fact of their loss made. clear, an effort was made to induce the Government to reduce the charge of royalty and the cost of haulage by the railway. All these negotiations, which took time, followed after the men had ceased work at the mines, and coal became so scarce at, Greymouth that actually some was' carted down from Reefton to supply the requirements of the town, while at the Brunner- mines it seemed like'y that the pumps would have to be stopped for want of fuel, even the waste coal that had been lying there being nearly all consumed. The stoppage of the mines put an end to the coal traffic from Greymouth, and in order that the cau3e of the Greymouth and Brunner colliers might not be injured, the miners at the Westport collieries declared that they would not increase their average output. Thus was the supply of coal affected, and the Union Steam Ship Company, which is said, although the statement has been denied, to be interested in the coal mines at the Grey and also at Westport had to lay up certain of its steamers that had previously been engaged in the coal trade, while steamships and manufacturers were threatened with a coal famine. At this stage the crisis occurred in Australia. For some time a difficulty had threatened there with respect to the Shearers Union, and it was said that the shipment of wool shorn by non-Unionists would be impossible. The actual difficulty, however, arose in connection with the Marine Officers, whose society was affiliated with the Trades and Labor Councils of New South Wales and Victoria. Certain demands were submitted by the officers to the associated Steamship Owners, who declined to confer with them unless they withdrew from the Trades and Labor Council. This the officers declined to do, on the ground that their claims had met with no recognition, whilst they were merely an independent body. The cause of the Officers was taken up by the Trades and Labor Council, and a strike in Australia resulted. The Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand had joined the Steamship Owners Association of Australia, and was consequently drawn into tbe difficulty. At Australian ports it became necessary to employ nonUnionist labor to discharge ships, and thereupon the seamen of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand refused to work with blacklegs. For a time ii was hoped that the difficulty would be confined to the Australian ports, or that at all events the coastal trade of New Zealand would not be affected, but the Union I Steam Ship Company being allied with the Australian Shipowners Association, and the New Zealand seamen and members of other Unions in the Colony being allied with the Trades and Labor Council of Australia, the fight soon extended along the lines. In Australia the] Seamen and Officers I have been backed up by the Shearers Union and others, while moral and pecuniary support is also being extended towards them by the London Dockers and others. The colliery owners and the colliers of Newcastle, New South Wales, have also been drawn into the fray, the masters declining to supply coal save to steamship owners belonging to their association, and the colliers being determined to boycott all but supporters, and ttose conforming to the requirements of the Trades and Labor Council. The Maritime Council of New Zealand explain that although no direct quarrel exista with N the- Union Steam Ship Company, it was necessary to call the men out on strike in self defence, the Company having thrown in their lot with the Australian Shipowners Association, and determined to assist them in crushing Labor Unions. On the seamen being called out an endeavour was made by the Union Company to engage non-Unionists to work their vessels, and in this they were partially successful, but the wharf laborerss and carters then refused to handle goods. At Weldngton the Harbor Board engaged nonUnionists to work oil the wharf, but this furnished another element of danger. One of the steamers of the Anchor line, belonging to this port, on reaching Wellington was unable to discharge by means of non-Union labor, for that would have entailed her seamen being called out. However, that difficulty was got over by her discharging at the Breastwork by Union men, but she cannot obtain transhipments. Work was resumed at the Grey Valley mines this week, but there are few steamers able to obtain cargoes, and the shortness of ooal a v 6ne has necessitated the stoppage or partial stoppage of many industries, and trade generally ■is paralysed, but at the present 1 time sighs ;of a compromise being ' shortly 'effected are appearing,' and we i hope Jbhat both parties will ; eh6wia?cdnoiliatory spirit, v m