WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5761, 4 January 1897, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

[Per Press Association. J THE MARINE ENGINEERS. COMMENCEMENT OF THE STRIKE. MELBOURNE, Jan. 3. The trouble between the Marine Engineers' Institute and the Steamship Owners Association has reached an acute stage. At a meeting of the Owners' Association yesterday, it was decided to firmly resist the action of the engineers, if they persisted .in their demands, and lay up the vessels and pay off the crews. The other side express equal determination. The first blow was struck in connection "with Messrs Howard, Smith and Co.'s steamer, the Barrabool, which was to sail for Sydney this forenoon, being stopped at the last minute, the engineers leaving in obedience to the mandate of their Association. Similar action was taken on the Union Company's steamer Pateena, timed to leave for Launceston at three o'clock, and also the coastal steamers. Amongst the intending passengers by the Pateena were the Governors of South Australia and Tasmania. In the case of the A.U.S.N. Company's Cintra, Warronga and Rockfcon, which sailed during the day, the engineers signed articles at Sydney, and cannot leave till they reach there. As the result of an interview with the Secretary of the Engineers' Association, Messrs Patterson and Co. agreed to concede the engineers', demands. The firm own only two colliers, and are not members of the Owners' Assotion. SYDNEY, Jan. 3. Although Sydney is the headquarters of the Engineers' organisation, which issued the instructions upon which the Melbourne branch, acted, no definite aggressive move has been taken here, but an . attempt has been made to stave off the trouble. The President of the local Ship-owners' Association waited on the President of the Engineers' Association and submitted similar terms to those rejected in Melbourne, but met with a refusal to withdraw the strike notice unless the demands were granted unconditionally. , The executive of the Engineers' Association met to-day and passed a resolution approving of the stand 'taken-in^Melbpurnei is now a matter of certainty that the' strike will extend to New South Wales.' It is understood that it is the intention to withdraw the engineers of all steamers : trading on the Australian coast failing concession of the demands; < whether the vessels belong to the Shipowners' Association or not. A few days ago the Adelaide Steamship Company withdrew from the Association. It has not transpired whether that company intends to concede the demand. The Engineers' Association membership is about one thousand, and it has very large reserve funds.

MELBOURNE, Jan. 4. The engineers' strike was precipitated by an injudicious letter drawn up by one ! ownerj under countenance of the Owners' Association. The missive was of the "stand and .deliver " order, and the engineers at once resented it, and struck immediately. The president of the, Steamship Owners' Association states that, as a proof of bona fides, the owners intimated their willingness "to increase the wages, which were Already the highest in the world, and had even conceded the twenty-four hours' notice demand. Beyond this, however, the 6wners would not go. Instructions have been issued to the engineers in the various colonies, with the exception of New Zealand, to adopt the same measures' as have been put into practice in Victoria.

WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. It is understood that the engineers' trouble in Victoria will not affect vessels trading to this colony In any ease the Arbitration and Conciliation Act makes provision for meeting the difficulty,