LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2095, 6 September 1890, Page 2

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, Sept. 2 . Mr Walkin, who was chosen president of the Trades Congress at Liverpool, in his opening address advocated legislation in favor of eight hours as a day’s labor ; laud nationalisation; State control of the railways ; nationalisation of the mines ; and the using of union funds for employment of members in certain trades, Mr Tillett announced that every trade had joined subscribing, and they were determined to send at least £40,000 to the colonies. The dockers alone _ would send between £15,000 and £20,000, Every docker bad agreed to give Sd weekly while-some were contributing 2s 6d,

The Shipowners’ Association propose federation of the trade of the British Empire to resist the tyrannous demands of the unions. The representatives of five million tons have approved of the decision arrived at to-day, and other owners have yet to be consulted. ■ The association carried a resolution pledging to support the Australian association by all the means at its disposal, ' One hundrfd mil ion pounds of ctpital was represented at the meeting. The members said that they had no d-sira to force the fight, but the unions mast keep to the legitimate object for which they were estab ished. Sept. 3, The gas workers forwar 1 £IOOO to Australia. The sailors and firemen have voted £IOOO. The sttckmakers propose a weekly levy of 6d. The engineers offer Is, which is calculated to produce £3OOO per week. iThe dockers wilt send subscription boxes outside the churches where special sermons will be delivered, and will make collections. Where possible, boxes are to be placed in ibe streets and public bouses. Ten thousand bills appealing for assistance have been posted throughout the metropolis. Workmen’s political, friendly, and temperance societies throughout the United Kingdom will hold meetings in all the large towns. The anion leaders in America and the Bourse d* Travaille, of Paris, bars been invited to assist Australia.

The executive of the Shipping Federation will appoint committees at outperts, and establish ‘ agencies throughout the kingdom end the colonies. It is intended to deal with. local strikers by laying up ships, the owners of which will be indemnified by the federation. Thera have been many fresh adherents to the federation.

r The seamen and firemen at Liverpool are organising to resist the. Shipowners Federation.

The dockers at Liverpool are agitating for eight hours.

The Labor Council of the Port of London appeal to all trades to assist the Australian strikers. , , The Dockers’ Union have made ft levy on a membership of 53,000. It is hoped that the other Waterside unions will assist, in which case the total number will be 500,000. : _ r ’ At a meeting of the Union Libor Council to discuss the question of peceniary assistance to Australia the attendance was only scanty, A finance committee was appointed with Mr Ti let as chairman, Mr Burns treasurer, and Mr M«nn secretary. The unions are competing foe the honor of beading the list of contributions.

The dockers having spent all bat the funds which are invested, were com* pelled to borrow to remit the £IOOO. STDKKY, Sept. 3 .

Three - thousand people attacked a number of free la-«nr rs, wbo were rescued by the polic-. Large numbers of special constables have been enrolled. Sept. 4.

Something approaching a riot occurred this afternoon. The Free Labor Bureau was rushed and wrecked. One man was so badly injured that he had to he removed to the hospital. Three hundred special constables were sworn in to-day. Two of those who trick part ID last night’s disturbance have b-en sentenced to seven days’Jmprisonraent, and another has been sentenced to three mon'bs.

H M S. Roya'ist, the only man-of-war in port, is mastering ber men, and refuses to grant Nave during the present labor disturbances.

The -Woollongong coal proprietors have declined to load yessels with QD)OQ crews.

The greatest difficulty is experienced by shipowners in gelling or keeping crews for their steamers.. The Union, Company engaged a number of seamen bat found one or two unionists among tlom who succeeded in inducing th® ovhers to clear ont.

A great number of free laborers did not appear at their work to-day, owing) it is alleged, to fear of maltreatment, faring the last fejy days a laygp number of revolvers haye been sold, apd one firm alone state that they haye disposed of 7QO. Large forces of ipoqnted jnfoplry aqd troopers are massing in tbp city ffO|p tbp country districts to reipfoyco the local men in maintaining order.

Another huge demonstration of these on strike will take place on Saturday, when it is estimated that ltilly ; 150,000 will parade the principal streets. Sept.&.

The miners at ffrokep f?dl pfopogp to ask for an increase in wages, opd it stated that foreseeing the impossibility of avoiding being locked ont the men have resolved to strike, so that instead of for? warding large snips eyery week to agsipf other strikers they may them-ielves become < ntitled to strike pay. Official returns show that there are 319,000 bona fide working men in {he

colony, 40,000 of whom are members of unions, and 9000 are on strike. Melbourne, Sept. 4. Subscriptions are coming in freely for the employers’fond. It was augmented by £4OOO yesterday. Sept. 5. The Premier, Mr Gillies, in reply to Mr Playford, Premier of Sooth Australia, thinks it undesirable to take any action for the purpose of discussing the formation of Conciliation Boards during the present contention. \V hen the dispnte is settled, then will be the time to disease the matter calmly. The Trades Hall Committee state that their balance of assets is over £44,000. Adelaide, Sept. 4. The Maritime Council submitted a scheme drawn up by them for the establishment of a board of conciliation to the shipowners. It was proposed that the parties interested should be evenly represented, and that all disputes be settled % Independent arbitrators. The shipowners declined to entertain the scheme.

NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, Sapf. 3. There is a general strike ip the Waikato coal mines, the Taupiri Reserve, Taupiri Extended, Tanpiri, Raiph, Huntley, Miranda, And Waikato Coal Company a mines being closed. Between four and five hundred miners are idle. A meeting of employers pledged themselves to protect free 1 iborers. Sept. 4. The Wairarapa having Completed her loading sailed for Sydney to-day with the usual number of passengers. To-night the Northern Steamship Company's Wellington brought from Whangarei twenty-three free laborers for the Unibn Cotripanyj’ and it is expected by some that ifufther trouble will arise from this circumstance. , The Northern Roller Flour Mills and Pond’s butter box factory have been closed. „ „ ■ Sept. 5. This morning the whole of the crews of the Northern Steamship Company’s steamers in port here struck without a moment’s notice, and left the vessel at once. The officers also struck, leaving only the baptains, stewards, engineers, and cooks on board. The reason assigned is that the Northern Company assisted the Union. Company by taking their firebars up to Russell for the Pukaki, and also by bringing non-union labor to town for them. The men are perfectly satisfied with their treatment by the Northern Company, and regret having to go out on strike. The crews of the Clansman, Wellington, and Rowena are out, and those of the other vessels join them on arrival in port. The Wellington has shipped a nonunion crew.' She brought down from Wbangarei thirty non-unionists for the Union Company. Ralph Bros., Huntley, having given a guarantee not to supply the Union Company’s vessels, their miners have come back, and the mine is working again. Names, Sept. 4, A man named Lett, a union laborer, who grossly incited Mr Vigor Brown, who had acted is a volunteer ttoker in the steim launch Ahuriri, while tendering the Union boats, was to-day fined £2 or seven d»ya, and bound over to keep the peace for three months'. 1 A -crowded meeting of employers of labor was held to day, when resolutions expressing sympathy with the U nion Company were passed. An association was formed under the name of the bree Association of Employers and Workmen ot Hiwko’s Bsy. Sixty-four employers joined at once. It is to be a permanent association, employers paying £1 entrance fe«* and £2 annual subscription. A register will be kept of. »11 laborers The association also guarantee free laborers against loss by boycott, for which purpose a guarantee fund is provided. More than £6(H)O was guaranteed in theroocu, and the list to reach £IO,OOO. • , Wbllxn«ton, Sept. 3.

A meeting of those officers who recently left the Union Company’s steamers and have joined the Shipmasters’;' Association was held this afternoon. CaptiaA-High-man, secretary of the Marine Officers Association, states that the officers were of opinion that «ll are 4n honour bound to stand by their brother officers, and the Maritime Council, and that a reso'ulion was passed to the effect that none of the officers should, re enter the service, of,the Union Company until' the difficulty it settled. Capiain Highraan also states that all the Union Compiny’a officers at Lyttelton and Ouhedin in order to show their fidelity have forwarded their certificates to Sir Robert Stoat, Dunedin. It is alleged that Parliament will not be orbrbgned until the difficulty is settled. ” v Sept. 4.

The 'f'ip j es stateg that a te’egram «? : neived from'the south points to the belief that an airacgemant will soon be arrived at which will lead to a settlement of the officers of the following steamers have joined the Master?’ Ats eolation VVuihora, Takapuna, Wanaka, Omapere,,’-Southern Cio3?,’Waihi, Kanieri, Moa, Manawatu, M»hin«puß. The following second mates have joined ;—Wanaka, Waihora, Moa, Wareait-a, Mahinapua ; also the third and fourth ipateV qf the AVaffiora. . So far maatefß and pates haye pined.^ The caitera and expressmen' b *ye practically el l " o ' 4 * blocking all trade' Interest is now chi-fly centred in what the railway men will do, " Thp V'>l on H a ve decided to do np work fpr the Upion Company during the present difficulty. Cotteri'l apd Op., carrieps, who are 4h r P a,e ß hJ ‘h o B a .'h° r Board with proceedings for damages for breach of contract, say that they will hold the Maritime Council responsible for any damages in which they may be cast by

the action of the latter in withdrawing the a large meeting of butchers this evening it was decided by 136 to 30 to adhere to the rule which provides for disputes being submitted io arbitration. By this decision the question of the Qear Meat Ooinpaoy supplying tbp {Jmon Cotpp,ny!a steamers with meat must be arbitrated. S „ pt . 5 Laery and Company’* emplojdi voluntarily ask to be put on half pay.J

1 The Knights of Labor passed resolutions sympathising with the strikers—and aensuriug the Union Company for joining the Shipowners’ Association and the men who have not obeyed the union s call, and advocating arbitration. 1 Offers of help in produce and teams are being received from country settlers. The proprietors of the three daily Wellington papers have received the following letters, signed by the secretary to the Federated Wharf Laborers:— “ Sir,—l am instructed by the general committee of the Maritime and Trades and Labor Unions to [kindly request that you will withdraw the Union Company a advertisements during the present Lbor crisis. The committee further request that you will furnish truthful and impartial reports of the developments of the labor troubles, such reports to be obtained from official sources. An early reply will oblige. (Signed) Robert Seymour, bee. The proprietors of all three papers are unanimous in resenting this letter as an unwarnntable interference with the liberty of the Press. The Post and Press to-night and the Times to morrow morning, will publish strong remonstrances, absolutely declining to accede to the request or to accept in any way the restrictions sought to be imposed on the conduct of their business. _ . „ Nelson, Sept. 3. At the Cathedral to-night a special service foi prayer and supplication in reference to the present serious crisis was largely attended. Bishop Suter, the Rov.R. Calder (Pesbyteriaa), and the Rev. F. W. Isitl (Wesleyan), each delivered addresses and took part in the service. The Rev. J # p. Kempthorne and F. W. Chatterton (Anglican) also assisted in the Litany and prayers. The addresses were earnest and able, true charity, love and unity being urged, while hopes were expressed that the present tribulation would lead to less selfishness and greater consideration one for another. Christchurch, Sept. 3,

To-ni«»ht as some of the free labourers were leaving the Cbris'church station on their wav to (heTemperance Hotel, where they. boud. they were attacked by a crowd of young men, and it is stated that mud and stones were thrown at them. One window of the hotel and one in the Kaiapoi Woollen Factor} close by was broken, but from the report made by the police it appears that no one was hurt in the crowd, though Mr Stead complained to the Resident Magistrate that sever#! of of the party were struck. The manager of the Co-operative Association also states that the disturbance arose through an insufficient supply of police. Sept. 4. Everything is quiet in connection with the strikes in Lyitelton tc-iay. MrSt*ad, in a conversation with Mr Brown, President of the Wharf Laborers’ Union, cxpre8 a ed agreeable surprise at the way the men conducted themselves. When the battle was over, which he hoped would be soon, he hoped one and all would shake hands and be satisfied. Sept. 5. Matters in connection with the strike are very quiet in Lyttelton tc-lay. The Waihora and Maoapouri arrived this morning, and are being worked by farm hands and their own crews. Dunedis, Spet. 3. At a meeting of employers the following resolution was carried : —“That with a view to the peaceful adjustment of differences which may from time to lime arise between employeis and there should be formed unions of employers in each industry iu the colony, and an Employers’ Association fur the whole colony, ihe council of which, and a similar council representing labor, should together form a final court of appeal to determine all questions which the trade and Employers Union have failed to settle ; the decision of such body to be final. Sept. 4.

The Rev. R. Waddell hopes to see a seitleman effected on these lines:—existing contracts between the Union Company and non-union labour to be adhered to for six months or such shorler terra as may be ntftrreed upon; that at the expiration of that time the relations exis'ing between Union Company and the Seamen’s Union previous to the present strikes, be resumed, and that meanwhile the nnionists agree to work with non-unionats till the lermination of the latler’scontracts with the company ; that the Union Company refrain from employing non-union labor on Australian shores, and that the Seamen’s Union undertake to provide the necessary union labor pending a settlement of the present dispute ; that the question of Ike officers’ relations to the Maritime Council be postponed for six mopths. The Typographical Association have unanimously voted a weekly levy of 2s 6d daring the coi tinuance of the straggle. At the City Court W. Robinson was fined the full penalty of £lO, or a month, for obstructing loaded drays driven by non unionists. The danger of such, pro ceedings was shown by the respectability of the defendant.

At a meeting of the Trades Union it was resolved |to vigorously boycott Whitcombe and Tombs’ productions. The sum of was voted to the strike fpnd, apd a levy of 2a 6d per week was tflade wqile the stride lasts. Two of Hie School Committees in town have resolved to instruct bead masters to have as little as possible to do with Whitcombs and Tombs’ publications till the present difficulty is settled. Sedt. 5. The compositors in tlje Evening S f ar roop yGed £lO from the chapel fund in aid of the strikers. TIMARU. The difficulty between employers and employs in Timaru was pretty well got over yesterday afternoon and it is expected that it will be all settled in a day or two. Some of the mills are going to be shut up for want pf cqal.

THE RAILWAYS. In all probability no railway strike will take place. The Commissioners haye done tl pir heat to drive the men to strike by forcing platelayers, clerks, &c., to do lumpers’- work on the wharf. A meeting was held in Christchurch last Wednesday when exceedingly moderate, but firm, ui - £inching speeches were made, and the following resolutions carried; “That the Exepuliye, and railway men ingenera 1 , regret yery much the action taken by the Commissioners of literally forciog the men into taking steps at the present juncture which may probably end in a general strike, by taking platelayers ami others from their ordinary work and

coerc'ng ihem into cicrng the woik of those wharf laborers who have at present wi hdrawn their labor, i hereby constituting them b’acklegs and demoralising the society; that th : s meeting express its unqualified approval and admiration of the manner in which the men now out on strike, both here and at Westport, have responded to the call of the Executive, and pledges itself to come out to a man, if called upon, either to assist in terminating the present struggle or to force the reinstatement of the men now out.” Whatever railway men have been called upon to do duty which was not hitherto done by them, such as shovelling coal and loading steamers, they have refused to do it, and have been dismissed from the service. There is very strong in Christchurch amongst all classes on account of the arbitrary conduct of the Commissioners. There ie nothing new tia regards the railways except that the ballot as regards striking was 4 to 1 in favor of a strike.