LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2164, 17 February 1891, Page 1

LABOR QUESTIONS.

London, February 12. There is a prospect of settlement of the waterside strike. The dockers have iBBU°d a manifesto giving their reasons for refusing to work for the Shipping Federation, Two thousand have s'.ruok at Liverpool, and the movem nfc is spreading to o'her ports. February 14. The labor unions at C»rdiff are without foods to continue tin Biruggle. The dockers' leaders are parleying wit h the Shipping Federation, and it is expected a compromise will be eflycttd as far as the ports of London and Cardiff are concerned.

The ex-cu'ive council of the Shipping Federation to«day discussed the proposals submitted by the Federated Unions. Ihey agreed that preference should not be given to non-union m-'n, end that seamen should sign at a mercantile m»rim office, provided that the Sailors' Uuion was not to have a mono' po'y, aud alao that the men engaged k*pt their oontrac's. lhe couocil declined to agree to thi proposal that all fr<e labour at present employed should be discharged. The Shipping Federation will issue a manifesto throughout the country on Monday, Berlin. February 13. The Reichstag has passed a measure prohibiting work on Sunday, Brisbane, February 13. The Labor Unions have decided to boycot Chinese coaks and gardeners from March Ist, Adelaide, Feb. 13. At the Shearers' Conference, which openet? yesterday, Mr Spmce,. President of thß Shearers' Uuior, in his iddress, urged the m n to advance in a new form, and instead of spending Urge sunn of meney on strikes and fighting bottles with pas'on ista, the .xpenditure should be in the direction of improving ihe position politically.

M' Jamas Mills, M-maging Director of tlie New Zr>\*aii Shipping Uomuany, haa ..trirf 8-e«1 a ionfc le'tt-r tn Mr 1). P. Fisher, ivcretiry of lha Farter, .e.l Tnidrn Gounc I, We'lingU'iJ, in lep'y to one wri ten by him. Thu leit«r atmes :—" I um af<a ; d, thero ia nothiojf t 0 bj g daed by

our discussing the question whether it i'b or is not \he case that the members of tin* Seamen's and Firemen's UniooH have be< n refused employment in our service simply because they were members. We have been perfectly sincere in our intentions to give them and ihoße who are not members of their body the B»me chances of employment as- vacancies arisp, and it would have been a pleasure to us to bav» continued 10 do so had the union men left pur free men alone, and been content to give their loyal services to their employers. 1 am sorry, however, to say that, either of their own desire or by the trstruotione of their leaders, a large number of reinstated union men have forgotten their, loyalty to the company,' and set themselves to now discontent among the frjee men. It is not the question, as you seem to imply, that Fuch statements are mede by free men, and Bhould be* accepted with cautioo. On the contrary, so eatisfied are: we that the union men;are creatine misshief, and by various means compelling free men, unwillingly in many cases, to ioin the union, that until a better understanding is arrived at we now feel compelled to give instruction? that no farther vacancies are to be fil»d up by men belonging to the Seamen's and Firemen's Union as it at present exists. We do this with much regret, as in the past we were quite ready to recognise and work with the uuioq. We would still continue to do so had its executive shown ;aoy desire to work with us." The letter concludes : " You state that your council are very much giieved at learning that the unionists in our employ are using every effo't to sow discontent amoDgat free meo. 1 would ask you straight out and in good faith. Were you quite unaware of this until we informed yon 1 W- ro you entirely ignorant that streDUons a&d unfair means were being used to induce free m»n to joio the union? Or, being made *v\aie, have your council taken any effao'ive Btep to put a stop to such practice ? We If ok upon it as impeiative, both in our interests and those of the travelling public, that our employe's should recognise that the first duly is loyalty to us, aod not obedience to the dictates of an irresponsible body which is prac ically hostile to us. We feel, therefore, that it is forced upon ob to "decide-that-future vacancies in our service shall be filled op from those outside the union, and this we hope to accomplish to a very large extent i from the ranks of the young men growing up in our midst, many of whom are only | too anxious to get into our employ."