The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1890. THE CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2094, 4 September 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1890. THE CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.

How we can understand the cause of the strike. According to the speeches of Sir Eoherfc Stout, and Mr J. A. Miller it was this; The .Maritime Council arranged with the Union Steamship Company that so long as the Company did not employ “ free labor ” the strike would not extend to the Companies ships. They would be loaded in this colony and discharged in the other colonies in the usual way. Instead of carrying out this, compact “ free labor ” was employed to discharge the vessels, and consequently the Unionists refused to work with the “ free Laborers.” This explains what the Hon. George McLean, Chairman of the Directors of the Union IS.S. Company, said the other day to the Mayor of Lyttelton. He said that “ neither the Maritime Council nor. the Union Steam Shipping Company could help themselves.” This wa true, for the Union Steam Ship Company was under a bond to stand by the Shipping Companies Association, and had to employ black-leg labor. The thing is plain enough now, and certainly any honest man must admit that the Maritime Council is not to blame. If the Union Company had a right to assist the Australian Shipping Companies to destroy Trades-unions, surely the Trades-unions had a right

to defend themselves. Surely no one could ask them as Mr J. A. Millar has put it “to lie down and he kicked.” If any one is to blame the Union Company is to blame. It would have been better for it to hhve broken the bond, than taken the course it took. But it is alleged that the Shipping Companies of Australia have promised as a price of loyalty, that they will allow the Union Company a monopoly of the New Zealand trade. ' Let people know- exactly these-things. - For the sake of breaking down unions and securing this monopoly this company has,paralysed trade. They do not care one jot about the /interests ; of farmers, yet farmers are going to their assistance. The -Maritime Council on the other hand considers the interests of farmers, and has , determined on shipping farmers produce. If that, is not enough to put. farmers to the blush we do not know what could. Are not the,Unionists returning them good, for evil ? The farmers would help that fearful. and dangerous monopoly, the Union Company, to crush Trades-unions, yet the unionists turn round and say, “We forgive them, they not what they do. We shall ship their produce.”. The farmers are always found on the side of their enemies, and we suppose they always will remain there. .Then mark what these villanous Trades-unionists are doing f Instead of creating any disturbance they are enrolling themselves as special constables to protect property, and maintain law and order. All we can say is that the public opinion which will help to crush men like, them is wrong, and will soon corract itself.