The Labour Difficulty.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7219, 20 September 1890, Page 2

The Labour Difficulty.

The Auckland Knights of Labour are entering upon preliminaries for a libel action against the Trades and Labour Council. This is to protect Mr Farnall's charactor, by way of showing he only makes, truthful statements. Some strikers have gone to seek work in the country. The Ivamo miners have been called out. At Wellington the charge against Robert Allan for knocking Gerrard down the hold of the Australia has been dismissed. He was first struck. Gerrard will havo tho option of private action should he happen to recover. Shaw, Saville, and Co. intend to carry a body of labourers in future fiom port to port, to prevent their steamers, being stuck up. All the ships are being i\ orked at Chriatchurch, and strike matters generally aro quiet. The labour party are hourly expecting word from headquarters to tho effect that a conference has been arranged by which a settlement can be arrived at. The labour party are greatly incensed at the Press newspaper for the liuo it has taken, and boycotting was proposed by some at a meeting yesterday. Tho leporter withdrew rather than submit Mb notes to a Committee before publication. Mr Jellicoe, now at Dunedin has insißtod that the Maritime Council should immediately call a conference in Wellington to determino tho future course of the labour party in the colony, and to prevent the appeal made to the public being abused. All quiet as rogards the strike. The removal of wool from Darling Harbour to tho stores on Circular Quay at Sydney led to a gathering of 3000 strikers. Tho trollies were guarded by mountod police and special constables. Stone throwing commenced and windows were smashed in Georgo-street, and a piece of blue rook, aimed at a constable, hit a Union man, and tho' latter had to be taken to a hospital. Soon about 10,000 persons wore assembled and the Riot Aot was read. The soeno was confusing. Some men got pushed into the soa, but wero rescued, and "thero were numberless broken heads, and sovorarof tho police received nasty cuts and bruises." Sevoral prominent wool merchants drove trollies, tboir men being on striko Twenty arrest w ore made. Tho Colonial Treasurer announced to a deputation that tho Govornment had boen prepared all along for whatever might eventuate. They had now arrived at a different stage, and a kind of self-made revolutionary Government would take the necessary steps to secure individual liberty. Tho situation could not be more gravo than at present, and he assured the deputation that the Government wero prepared to take oven the most oxtromo stepß for the purposo of maintaining order. j