THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4932, 3 September 1890, Page 2

THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

« {Per Electric Telegraph— Cops right.) (Per Press Association.) (Kecoivea 10.30 a.m. September 2nd.) Melbourne, Sept. 2. Tho Seamen's Union havo decided not to call the sailors out of the Monowai, but to leave it to be done upon the return of the vessel to Now Zealand, if necesssary. Fourteen hundred special constables havo been sworn m. Lawyers' clerks havo offered their services m a body, and tho legal profession has subscribed £3000 to the employers' fund. Dalgoty and Co., of London, havo cabled seuding £10,000 to the same fund. Tho omployers, pastoralists, stoamship owners, and colliery proprietors next woek consider proposals emanating from the Trades Hall for a conference. The city was again lighted by gas last night. :R<>ceived 10.40 a.m., September tJad.) Sydney, September 2. Tho Orient mail steamor left up to time. The Mararoa is discharging by the help of free labour. Fully a. hundred men are employed on tho Union Company's wharf. The stevedores have formed an association, which has the full support of tho southern collieries and Steamship Owners' Association. After Septomber Bth tho Gaa Company will cut off tho supply betweon sunriso and sunsot. The directors state that they may havo to call on the pnblic to forego the use of gas altogether indoors, m order to maintain stroet lighting during tho striko. (Received 10 p.m., Sept. 2nd.) The Miners' Conference havo decided to call out all the Illawarra minors, but allow the Lithgow miners to continue. Tho public will therefore) be dependent ontirely on tho latter mine. A restriction has been placad upon Illawarra m order to prevent tha intended supply of coal to ships manned with free crews. Four strikers wero to-day charged with breaking their contracts by leaving the employ of the Lambswool Store, and were, fined £10 each and costs, or m dofault' fourteen days' imprisonment. The men had been receiving £3 Cs per week, and Is 9d per hour overtime. In thoir defence the men said that they dared not refuse tho mandate of tho Union. At a meeting of tho Association of

Colliers it was decided to close the mines indofluitely. Messrs Dalgety and Company have engaged sufficient free labourers at £3 53 per week to carry on the wool exportation. Melbourne, Sept. 2. A force- of mounted men and foot police are protecting the free labourers who are discharging the Union Company's steamer Monowai. (Recoivod 10 p.m., September 2nd.) Sydney, Sept. 2. At a meeting attended by 3500 employers and leading business men this afternoon, the following resolutions were passed unanimously with marked enthusiasm : — That the time has arrived when it is absolutely necessary that all employers of labour, capitalists, and others directly or indirectly interested, should form themselves into an association for mutual defence ; that this meeting approves of the formation of an Employers' Defence Committee of Australasia, and that a committee be appointed to draft a scheme and invite co-operation m all the colonies ; that it is desirable that all employers not members of tho union at once join, and that all interested directly or indirectly be called upon to express their sympathy m a practical manner ; that as the shipowners and others connected with maritime labour are fighting the battle of all employers against aggressive unionism, it is agreed to subscribe to a fund to assist them; that this meeting condemns the system of boycott practised by the representatives of the Trades Unions, not only against employers but also against union and nonunion fellow-workmen, as a violation of personal liberty, and antagonistic to the best interests of the Australasian colonies." Brisbane, Sept. 2. Tho steamer Balumba is discharging with her own union crew assisted by free wharf labourers, with the full approval of the secretary of the Seamen's Union. London, Sept. 1. The Di)ckei-s"Uiiioiis at all the seaports m Great Britain are subscribing m aid of the Australian strikers, and it is expected that tho amount raised will surpass that ssnt from tho colonies during the dock atrikes ia London. At the Liverpool Tradas Congress a motion by Mr Burns expressed sympathy with the men on strike m Australia, and nr^ed all tho unions to collect money for their assistance, and to impress upon the public the necessity for subscribing. {Received 12.50 a.m. Sept. 3rd.) Sidney, Sept: 2. The unionists boarded the German ship Chemnitz to-day, and turned the free labourers ashore ueck and crop, several of them receiving rather nasty f.ilis. A howling mob surrounded the steamship Rodanto about to sail for Brisbane, and stuck up cabs going to the steamer. The occupants wero then cross-exiaimed as to whether they were a portion of the frne crew engaged to take tho ship away. Some who refused to give the information usked for wero unceremoniously dragged from thoir vehicles, and had to seek refuge m flight. Brisbane, Sept. 2. Arrived— Union Company's steamer Eosatnond from Napier with produce. The market is now pretty well stocked and prices are falling. t London, Sept. 2. Tho Engineers' Society propose a levy of 03 par week m aid of the Australian strikers. The United Labour Council will discuss to-morrow the question of rendering pecuniary assistance. The Trades Congress at Liverpool is attended by 460 delegates, representing ' 1,500,000 unionists. Chicago, Sept. 2. Eight thousand carpenters m the city have struck, demanding an increase of j. wages. (Special to the Press Association.) CBoceivoa S a.m.. Sept. 3 n a.) s London, Sept. 1. Tho Dickers' Union have decided to - make a levy on their members of Is per 3 week m aid of the Australian strikers, i' The other unions will wait for a time m b order to ascertain if the support is sufficient before making a levy. Tho p stovedores, however, have agreed to a t levy of 03 poi 1 week. 1 Washington. Sept. 1. Congress hns forbidden the importation of com tract labour. 1 11 v Tkleohaph. i AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. j Tho scene alongside the Australia last night was a very animated ono. Lawyers, mer- ' chants, soft-goodsmen, and etoremen worked i four hour shifts at both hatches, and the cargo j wns all out early this morning. Great enthusiasm was shown by a large number of people who wore willing to work, but oould 1 not find room. The crowd was kept back > behind barricades erected by tho police. > Tho Arawata arrived this morning from Fiji with a large cargo of bananas and sugar, etc. The crew at once, on learning of the ■ etrike, gave 21 hours' notice to leave the «hip, 3 but consented to unload the vcssol's cargo, which ia mninly perishable stuff, to dnyj'pro- ' viriing no non-union labourers wero employed. ) Tho officers will probably giro notice to-day. r AH the chief stewards remain loyal to the company. ! lho Australia's officers gave notice to-day. The Kamo coal miners at Whangarei havo boon ordered to refine coal to tho Union . Company's boats. 1 Tho Wairarapa arrived from the south at t oloven o'clock, and wos berthed quietly without any disturbance She leaves for Sydney ' to-morrow evening. She is being discharged by non-unionists. There is a large forco of - police on tho wharf, but things are very , quiot. c Tho officers of tho Arawata garo twentyfour haurs' notice to-day, and leave the ship to-morrow. l'he officers of tho Australia i struck to-day, and the officers of the Orowaiti at Onehunga itrikd this afternoon. 'Xho lumpers discharging the ship Wai--0 tangi struck this afternoon, as retaliation t upon the warehousemen for sending (heir , bands down last night to disohftrgo the Aua- , tralia. 1 XheHuntly coal minors aro all out because 9 of tho rofuanl of tho directors to pledgo them--9 selves not to supply coal to the Union Company. A mmo owners' meeting is now being held, but it is private. f Tho Auckland branch of the Amalgamated

Society of Railway Servants have resolved to act;according to the instructions of their executive m the present straggle, and to Bupport the Maritime Council morally and financially to the utmost extent. They demand tho reinstatement af the men suspended at Lyttelton and Westport. NAPIER, Sbpt. 2. Tho Waihora was tendered without difficulty today with volunteer labour. There was a large , crowd, but no disturbance, tho wharf labourers looking on m perfect good humour. To-night the wharf labourers and other unionists marched m procession to the Gaiety Theatre where a large moeting was held. Tho Bpeeobee delivered were with one exception moderate m tone, and an attempt to introduce politics wag suppressed. Resolution^ wera passed sympathising with those involved m the present labour trouble, promising moral and financial support, BDd approving of the action of tho Maritime Council. About £15 was subscribed m the rjom. Louis Dean, who took charge of the launch Ahuriri during Captain Tonkin* illness, was Inst night expelled from tha Wharf Labourers' Union. Tho members pledged thomaelves not to deal with him (Dean is a small storekeeper; or to speak to him. Threats of personal violonco to Dean having been made, Captain Tonkin, m deGanco of the doctor's orders, got up nnd took chargo of the Ahuriri whilo she was tendering the Waihora. WANGANUI, Sept. 2. The Waverloy Farmers' TJiiion passed a resolution to the effect that m the event of the railway employees refusing duty, the eel tiers here offor their services to keep the line open m this district. fhe effect b of the striko are not much felt m Wanganui as yet. '.There is only a week's supply of household ro*l m stock, and none for steam purpose". Tho Qiis Company havo a fortnight's supply. 'Xhe stock of firowood will last a month, but if tho railway service is suspended further BnppUss will be hard to get. The Stormbirdis expeetod hera tomorrow, and will sail for Greymouth with stock m the evening. The Glohelg arrived, and sails north to-morrow for ODehunga. The Aorea U expected from Nelson on Friday with a general cargo. The Terrunora. sails for Lyttelton to-morrow with sheep. Xlie railway servants meet to-morrow evening" to decide whether they will go out on strike if called upon. The individual feeling is that they risk all if they come out, but will h-.ire to do so if called upon by tho iiaritrao Council. There is likely to bo a great divergence of opinion at tho meeting. WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. Tho Batchers' Union have given the Gear Company notice not to supply the Union Company, and storemen are instructed not to handle ahj goods to or from the Union Company's sleuraere. They will bo called out if asked to do so. The stewards of tho Uuion Company's boats m port have given notice of their intention to leave the vesasla after clearing up dinner to-day. Ihe Wareatea, which is loaded with coal, has been moored m the streim. Volunteers and free labourers are handling tho Wanaka'e and Penguin's cargoes, and an endeavour will, bo made to'gct the former away fur Lyttelton and the latter for Taranaki and Onohung.i come time tonight. Everything is very quiet on the wharves. A mas 3 meeting of unionists takes place on the reclaimed land thia afternoon. , A meeting of all the Onion Company's captains and some of the officers m port is being held to-day. In an interview with the local Press Mr George McLean denied that there was any truth m the statement that the company was under manning their boats. The risk was too great to permit it. Afked whether the Union Company would cut loose from Australia if the men did, he said ouch a proposal might come first from the unions, and if it did he would be willing to lay it before the Owners' Association. The company had no quarrel with any one, and would be quite willing to take the officers and men back, so long as there were vacancies In any settlement being arrived at now there would have to be some modifications m the demands of tho unions, whioh meant constantly increasing wages, and would eventually land the company m the same position R3 the Grey Valley mines. He believed the officers, if left to themselves, would bo back to-morrow. It is understood that the railway hands have decided to go out if the executive insist on the suspended men being reinstated, and the Commissioners refuse. A mats meeting of unionists is being held on the reclaimed land. -he Bailway Commissioners have determined that those employees who break the terms of their engagements, and refUße to perform railway duties as provided under the rules and regulations which they have formally undertaken to observe, shall be dieThe Doric got away from Fort Chalmers to-day with 7000 carcases of mutton, but some wool and other goods bad to be left behind. The Government railways here have about 10 weeks' supply of coal on band. A meeting of shipmasters was held to-day, at which it was decided to form a shipmasters' association, to which all holders of masters' certificates will J>b eligible as members. The association will not be affiliated to any organisation whatever, but will stand by itself. Twenty-six members signed along with nine chief officers, and negotiations are going on with other parts by telegraph. The directors of the Gear Meat Company have decided to continue supplying the Onion Company's steamers with meat at all hazards. Ihe Bailway Commissioners have issued the following rule under which the platelayers and others are engaged and work on tho railways. The rule provides that every person will as far as practicable have specific duties assigned to him, b»t when required he Bhall do any other duties which tho business of the railways require. Tho Commissioners state that acting under this rule the platelayers " for many years past, on exceptional occasions, have been called on to load and handle goode, and there is nothing unusual m the present omorgency m their having been requested to do what is purely railway business." Non-union crows have been obtained for the 'Wanaka and Penguin. A number of High School boys have been engoged lumping on the wharves to-day. 'Xhis circumstance was referred to with deriaion at the mass meeting on the reclaimed land this afternoon. Several addresses were given by various speakers m favour of the men's cause. The proceedings were orderly and brief. The Union Company's steamer Wanaka, for Lyttelton, and the Penguin, for Manukau, And Taranaki, got away this evening, the .- former at 5 o'clock, and the latter at 7. Captain Nordstruru, of the Grafton, and Captain Phillips, late of the Pukaki, went as officers on the Wanaka, while Captain Grant, of the Takapnna, and Ciptain Lambert, of the Wareatea, filled tba vacancies on the Penguin. Both the vessels are manned by non-union crews, and the company secured the necesiary cooks and stewards to fill the places of those who were to-day called out. A large number of Maoris have offered their services to the company to discharge and load their venels. In the event of tb"e Bailway Servants Executive calling out members of the society, Mr McKerrow is confident that a sufficient number of employees will stand by the Commissioners to eoablo them to carry on a reduced service, and he says that a largo nuaibor oE applications for employment havo been .received by the Commiisionere. The Shipmasters' Association of New Zealand, vnich was established this afternoon, has a menbersbip up to the present of fortytwo, of whom thirty-two are captains and ten chief officers. Tba former compriso tho captains of almost all the steamors m port. The latter are those who racontly loft the Union Company's steamors, and have intimated their willingness to rejoin their ships wlion called upon by tho company. Tho .association met to-night to draw up rules, 4c. lelegrams have been sent to the officers at Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland, informing them what had boon done, '

cnrtlP'(.'nur'.OH, Sept 2. About 800 man altogether are on strike m Lyttelton. The platelayers were railed out. this morning, and 40 men wor» sent down by the 12 10 pm. train to take Ihcir placo, but camo out directly they were called. No sailing ships are boing worked. Clerks from tbo Union Bank at Christchurch are loading the Culuo. At 10 30 a.m. the cooks, stewards, bakers, and butchers on the Union Company's steamers came out to a man. The manager of the railway asked the clerks to stand by the Commissioners, but they deolined, and a general strike of the railway hands is on the cards. At Rangioraat a meeting of farmers it was stated that volunteers would got Is 3d per hour for eight hours and 2s 6d an hour overtime. i'elson and Moato have given their hands notice that they may have to dispenso with their eervicos. Tho third batch of permanent handa, including the tally olerks, storemen and others, who were working at the Tokapo, wore called out. One railway man, a storeman, stayed. Clerks and farm hands ar» now working m the trucks. A large meeting oc tho Chamber of Commerce this afternoon passed the following motion .-— "Thut an urgent telegram be sent to the Commissioners of Railways, stating that the Chamber, while regretting the circumstances which compol them to tako action, ore prepared to find labour to carry on the trade of Lyttelton, providod that the Commissioners aro prepared to continue to deliver cargo alongside vessels m port, and that the Chamber will be glad of an urgent reply on thia point to enable them to muke tuch arrangements as are necessary to prevent a stoppage of the trade of Lyttloton." The tolegram was sent off, and a committee were appointed to make arrangements for carrying out the resolution. Several more offers of assistance to load ships have been made by farmers. Other business firms have given notice to their hands on account of the stoppage of trade. The Union Bank clerks loading the Coluo did very good work. At 3.30 p.m. she left the wharf and anchored m the stream. • Her crew left her at 7.30' p.m. One of the railway men on strike has stated that if they bad been treated with a little more consideration by tho officials at Lyttelton the result might possibly have been different ; but he thought that it waß time something was done when clerk b were ordered into trucks under the threat of knowing the coueequences if they refused, notwithstanding the statement of the Commissioners that each man was to bo kept at his usual employment. " The Jubilee arrived thi*3 afternoon. Union men went aboard to work the cargo. Platelayers from Chrisfabnrch were put into tho trucks by the Btationmaßter. They went m apparently unwillingly, and -were at once called out by tho union officers. They camo out at uncd, and members of the Wharf Labourers' Union took their places. The railway men called out were given to understand that they were suspended when they loft work. It is stated that cooks and stewards bare boen engaged to fill the places of those who came out. The Kaikoura has finished loading. Very good order is being preserved. WE3TEORT, 6bpt 2. The committee of the Chamber of Commerce mot a deputation of unionists today respecting tho local difficulties, Tho result is not known. A local butcher is being boycotted by the union because he assisted the Union Company's bo:its to coal The seamen paid off from the Mahinapua left by the Charles Edward to-night for Wellington. The Navalo' band played them to the wharf, where a large crewd assembled. Everything is quiet. OAMABU, Sept. 2. A meetingof the local branch of the Kailway Servants' Union wob held to-night, at which it nas decided to ballot concerning a strike to-morrow. The following resolution was carried :— " That the meeting regrots nnd resents the acLion of the Railway Commissioners m regard to forcing members of the railway service to tako tho place of union wharf men out on strike, thus setting the Railway Union at defiance by compelling its members to work on ships and wharves from whioh their fellow unionists have been withdrawn m order to maintain and edvance the interests of labour. " Tli3 general opinion was that the Commissioners were trying to force on a strike for some reason or other. DUNEDIN, Bbm. 2. The Port Obalmers branch of the Wharf Labourers' Union condemn the action of the Harbour Board m allowing their tug to convey a non-union crew to the Te Anau, and if the tugs render further assistance to the company, steps will be taken Id prevent them being supplied with coal. This morning tho crotro of tho tugs gave notice of their intention to come out. AH is quiet at tho city wharves to-day. In reference to Mr Millar's statement that the Te Anau sailed with sixteen hands all told, fourteen of whom were clerks out of the Union Company's office, tho Collector of Customs hero certifies that fifty moo were shipped, a large majority of whom showed by the production of certificates and discharges that they were competent for the situations for which they had shipped. Everything about the wharres and town was very quiet today and nothing at ell occurred. The Eotoru, Brunner, and Banks' Peninsula, are all laid up. Tho Company have received the following certificate from the Collector of Customs :— " I cortify that fifty (50) men wore shipped on board the s.s- Te Anau on Monday, Sept. Ist m various capacities, and that a large majority of these men showedjjby the production of certificates and discharges that thoy wore compotent for their situations for which thoy were shipped.— o. W Chamberlain." The ballot of cooks and stewards resulted m favour of tho men deciding to come out on strike. The crews of the Harbour Board tugs were to-day instructed to give the usual notice to leave. Mr Justice Williams and Sir Robert Stout have consented to act with the Mayor m trying to effect a settlement of the dispute. At a meeting of the Butchers' Union it was resolved to give tho contractor for supplying moat to the Union Company twontyfour hours' notice that all butchers will refrain from handling any meat for tho company's boats. The l'ailoreiaes* Union tonight decided to vote £60 for the strike defence fund. It is stated that an attempt will be made to boycott Donald Reid and Co.'s auction Bales INVBROARGILL, Ebpt. 2. A special train engaged by tho Union Company left for the Bluff at 7 o'clock with thirty merchants and clerks, Inspector Dickeon and three constables. Tho ordinary train at 7.45 took about thirty freo labourers to help m working tho cargo of the To Anau and Manapouri. Some twenty unionists also took their passage, including Kelly, Booretary to the Labour Union. Thore was a crowd on the platform to see them off, and mild groans for the free labourers and ohoero for the unionists were given. When the non-unionists reaohod tho Bluff the rmion wharf labourers were working cargo, and the free labour was accordingly withdrawn. Propositions, of a nature not divulged, have been mnde by the labourers, and will bo considered by the employers this afternoon. The Te Anau with a non-union crew arrived from Dunedin at 10 am. It is understood shd will be loaded by free labour. There are 1000 sacks of grain for her and double that for tha Manapouri. The non-unionists were hooted. BLUFF, Sept. 2. The Union Company having concoded the wharf labourers' demands that coal for the Manapouri should be taken off tho wharf and discharged sahoro, the lampors worked this o boat's cargo. ;. On tho arrival of tho Te Anau from t Dunedin this morning a good deal of hooting • was indulged m, this vessel being manned by non-unionists. A barricade had been oreoted

across the wharf, which greatly incensed tho wharf labourers, and it wus romoved. A special train arrived here this morning bringing a number of employers, clerks, and farmers, to uesist m discharging vessels, but thoir services were not called into ÜBe. At a meeting held this morning the wharf labourers offered the local firms to work the Te Anau's cargo, provided they would givo a guarantee, not to ship any more with the Union Company whilo the alriko was on, but this they refused to do. The Manßpouri got away for Dunedin at 4.14 p.m., and tho Te Anau for Melbourne at 5.15 p.m.