THE MARITIME STRIKE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6970, 26 September 1890, Page 4

THE MARITIME STRIKE

English and Colonial. Special to Press Association.] LONDON, Sept. 24. j The strike of blast furnace-men caused a rapid rise in Glasgow pig- j iron, but upon the men returning the ! price fell to 525. At a meeting of the principal coal firms of London and the provinces, it was resolv.ed to employ only restricted labour. Sept. 25. Nearly all the chemical firms have joined the Union. The prospectus baa been issued, fixing the capital at eight and a half millions. Three hundred tobacco hands at the Victoria < Dock have refused to work unless a comrade, who refused to j pay more than a shilling a week to the Australian fund, is discharged. The combined Trades Union of the Bristol Channel ports have issued a manifesto refusing to work with foreigners or non-Unionists. SYDNEY, Sept. 25. The Taupo has arrived with a cargo of southern coal for the use of the Unicn Company's steamers. The Employers' Union have replied to the Labour Conference, asking whether the latter are aware that the • United Trades Council are negotiating at Melbourne for a conference, and, if so, whether they still desire an answer to their request for a conference with Sydney employers. [fbom oub own cobeespondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The amount paid in strike pay to seamen alone in Wellington last week was over .£l5O. The labour organisations have for the most part accepted the invitation of the Government to the conference j the Maritime Council has added that unless all the Shipping Companies and Coal Companies are represented there will not be much use in the conference. At the same time the Government has received the Union Company's acceptance, which removes the chief part of the doubt expressed by the Maritime Council. I have an idea that the Grey Valley Company may not be represented. Mr George M'Lean will be the delegate to the Conference from the Union Company. Talking of the Union Company, doubts are expressed in many quarters about the 2100 men the Company says they have secured for their thirty-five steamers. On the first of January the whole strength of the Seamen's Union and the cooks and stewards was about 1700, of which, of course, a proportion— a small one, no doubt—was carried by the small coasters belonging to the other lines. How the Union Company can, with fewer vessels running, make out a total of 400 more men is the question which nobody seems to be able to answer satisfactorily. I have heard it suggested that the difference is made up by counting the non-Union labour at the various wharves. ■ A great many of the public, and I under- j stand nearly all the railway men, regard as unworkable the conditions laid down by the Bailway Commissioners, that the officers of the Executive they are forming must all be in the service. There ought, in their opinion, to be an independent body between the men and the Commissioners. I should not be surprised if a compromise on the subject were to be found workable. [Pbb Pebss Association.] AUCKLAND, Sept. 25. Operations in the Taupiri Extended Coal Company's mine have been resumed by non-Union labourers, many of whom went up to the mines from town. The Tramway Company employees, who at first were members of the Knights of Labour, and then gave up their connection with that organisation and formed a Union under the control of the Trades and Labour Council, have now resolved that the Union shall be independent of the Council or of any other body. The Tramway Company intend to resume running under the old time-table, and have offered to re-engage the employees who were recently discharged because of changes in the time-table. These, however, say they desire to adhere to the Trades and Labour Council, and, therefore, do not wish to fall in with the step just agreed on by the Company's men. The tramway authorities have given the men until to-morrow to consider whether they will resume work. Full time will shortly be commenced again at the Newmarket Bailway workshops. The present strike has materially affected the timber trade at Kaipara. WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The Union carters refused to cart coal from the steamer Wareatea to-day, and non-Unionists were employed. Tbe Queen of the South, which was laid up owing to the labour difficulties, has again been placed in commission. The Union Company's Taieri takes horses to India, and will probably bring back a cargo of coal from Calcutta. The local branch of the Seamen's Union will not be represented at the Labour Conference. The Shipmasters' Association thinks that, as their interests are identical with other employers, no action need be taken in the direction of appointing delegates to attend the labour conference. Six coal-cutting machines are coming out by the next steamer from England for use in the West Coast mines. Each will do the work of tea men. WESTPOBT, Sept. 25. Strike matters are quiet here. The Herald loaded to-day, and Bailed for Lyttelton. More free labour is offering than is required; It is understood that next week 5000 tons of slack coal will be commenced to be sent down from Denniston by free labour. GKEYMOUTH, Sept. 25. Shortly after the arrival of the midday train, the Brunnerton Coal Company proceeded to load the nuts stored in bins by clerks from the Grey mouth and Brunnerton offices, but they could not get on with the work at all, and soon abandoned it. The policemen and clerks were chaffed a good deal by the crowd. Four trucks only were brought across the bridge, as the others had been tampered with, the pins having been knocked out, thus blocking the outer line of railway. They will require to be unloaded before the doors can be shut. It is reported by those coming down in the last train that the turntable was also blocked, and that one arrest had been made. Work on the wharf goes on uninterruptedly. A man named Fisher was arrested at Brunnerton for tampering with coal trucks. The latest word from Brunnerton reported that about 300 persons and two bands of music were all round the lockup, also that the coal Btaiths had been opened, and the coal allowed to run but. - ' DUN3DIN, Sbpiv 23. Everything is very quiot in connection with the strike. The Ohau lauded eight hundred tons of coal, in nineteen hours, and was taken into the Graving Dock. The Eanee ia being worked by Union lumpers. INVERCAEGILL, Sept. 25. The effect of the labour troubles on the railway' service bas been peculiar in this district, for while the train services have been reduced the haulage work has actually increased through the purchase of local coal by the Union Steamship Company for shipment at the Bluff, specials being run to the Nightcaps for the mineral.