THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE.

Western Star, Issue 1385, 31 August 1889, Page 2

THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE.

London', Aug. 27. The total num'ici' of men now on He'ike is 100.000, but, except in the caies of dock laborers and stevedores none ure directed by nniou rnrl labour councils, whilo the assistance rendered by tlie public is spasmodic and unlikely to last. It is expected tbo Sopia'is's avo pluming a national labour revolt. Forty thousand rents iu the East End of London were not paid on Monday, and the hndlords are powerless to obtain their money. Messrs Nelson Eros, landed ISO carcases from the Eifeshuc, but the strikers compiled thorn to desist from further operations. New Zealand mutton has risen 2d per lb. Ausr. 28. Mr Burns, the Socialist, who is tuking a prominent part in the labour agitation, states that 150,000 men are determined to prevent the employment, of TSelwian labourers in the port of London. The committee awioinfcd by the varions classes of shippinor labourers on strike have advised fiat the syst m of allowing middle men to take work by con'raet and sublet it at starvation rates be abolished, an r l that the increase of wages demanded should be granted. The directors of the dock companies have conced >d the first dennnd, but 'o ra.'se the rate of wages. The s'rike funds avera e £I.OOO daily. There are £IOO,OOO married men on Btrike and the allowance to these is limited to Is fid worth of food dailv for each family. The pickets who watch the docks f o prevent men from accepting work receive 2s per dnv. Thousands of women:and children besiege the i food depos clamouring for relief from stava- : tic 13, the scenes heinsr of a harrowing character. The committee beseech the strikers from the riverside works to limit their numbers oth°r«iso the strike will collapse from inherent weakness. Thcycoal carters have been successful in their demand for increased pay and have x'esumed work. The wharfingers have accepted tbo terms

demanded by Iho strikers, and it is expected many will resume work to-day. Original Correspondence. [We ar< n r >t responsible for the opinion p 9ip.'esa<; I by our correspondents. Letter? >nust be acoompanieH with the name of the ivriler, no*, necessarily for publication, but. as * guarantee of good faith.] THE TIMES-PARNELL CASE. TO TIIE EDITOR. Sir.—l did not presume to find fault with you for the stalenoss of the Parnellite clipping nor yet for its flavour. You could not help oithor. I was merely reciting facts. The point of my letter was that the Parnellites had only withdrawn after emptying their magazines, after their last shot had been fired. There was no talk of withdrawing when you rang your modest song of " Piggotry." Sir James Hannon was thou a white haired boy; now he is a rascal of the deepest dye. Why this thusness? You say you are surprised thai anyone could be foolish enough to believe Sir James could order a refactory witness into custody. Now what do you mean by this? Are yon not aware that Sir James has already done this very thing ? What do you suppose tho commissioners are sitting for if they have no powers? Do you suppose the wretched Piggot willingly pilloried himself? Do you imagine Davitt unbosomed his fenian soul for nought, or that the patriot Harrington paid his £SOO fine just for the fun of the thing ? If tho commission is merely an ornamental concern, how is it several prominent" patriots " found it convenient to visit Amorica for a season, or that a number of the Loagne's books were "accidentally " destroyed!—Yours, in trusting simplicity, Simple Smox.

[We would point out to " Simple Simon " that Sir James Hannen and his coadjutors sit as a commission to bring in a report. Of course, if anything transpires in connection with the commission to incriminate any person, they'can order such person to be brought up for punishment, but punishment is not meted out by the commission.—Ed. W.S.]

THE POUNDKEEPER. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Thero is a very general opinion in Riverton thab our Borough Council have adopted somewhat hard measures in their dealings with John Miller—their present poundkeeper and lamplightor. Miller, as pounrlkeeper, is not supposed to be a lawyer, and as the Council have retained a legal gentleman to advise them, it appears to myself and others, that if any error was made in talcing Kopcroft's case into Court it wps not Miller who was to blame. Certainly Miller has shown no favouritism as poundkeeper, and in his charge the lights have been well looked after.--! am, &0., F airplay.

THE ROUTE FROM LAKE TE ANAU TO WEST COAST. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln a recent issue of the Westerx Star a letter from Mr E. Melland appears as having been read before your County Council. This letter calls for a few remarks from me. I do not suppose Mr Melland presumes to class himself with the average tourist, yet in his letter to the Otago Daily Times,af ter struggling from Te Anau to Milford Sound with most of the track only blazed and no guide capable of keeping on the track such as it was, he states (if my memory does not deceive me) that the track could be made an easy and popular one at a slight expense. Now. what has caused him to change his opiuion I cannot saymost certainly not the idea of a track through to George Sound being a new one—l commuuicated with Government re this track two years ago; also, I have crossed to Caswell Sound from Middle Fiord, Te Anau Lake, nearly three vears since, and what could be made a tourist track, and no obstructions in the form of hkes in the w<iy. I will be glad to supply particulars of either track to your Council for a much smaller sum than he mentions, but do not think that, with the Clinton track, connecting Te Anau and Milford Sound, via Sutherland Falls, and passing through the finest scenery in this grand country, there is the slightest necessity for more tracks. I mention the lakes as being an objecHon when they come on the track, and such they prove, uutil such time as the number of travellers ensure a certain and regular means of transit. T, on behalf of myself and companion, in exploring Clinton track, have not applied to your Council for any reward, but hope before they vote money for a now track that they will not forget us. —I am, &c, Q. McKinno>'. Manapouri Station, August 14,1889.