AUSTRALIAN STRIKES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2826, 23 August 1890, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN STRIKES

■RODUOE RISING IN PRICE. (» •PEN REBELLION MOOTED. T —— fu |]!V KI.KCTUIC 'IKLKGKll.\l'H.—COt'VllllillT.l (j SYDNEY, August 21. s j OMCIS.MKX are stationed at the wharves •atching what goes cm outside. A slight irimmage took place last night between t | Inionists and non-unionists, which ended s ( i a free tight. Lumps of road metal .vere 'irown about freely, hut no injuries are roorted. , The strike in unexpectedly alfectinfj the cean liners, as the labonrers refuse to coal he big steamers. (l A daring attempt was made last night to et fire to the wharf and buildings. It was, j lowever, discovered in time, and quickly ixtinguished. It is estimated that at present 4500 men ') ire on strike in Sydney, affecting 15,000 o iou Is. Produce is advancing, and onions are £2 iearer. a Later. It is understood that one firm has engaged 150 non-Unionists to work the v vessels. The slaughtermen refuse to kill the .sheep c ihorn by non-enion men. The effect of the strike on the produce t market is hourly becoming more apparent, l'o-day New Zealand flour is quoted at £8 10 s to £!) 10s ; bran, 'Jd. Nine thousand bags New Zealand oats arrived this morning. Best feed is quoted at 2s to 2s 3d ; New Zealand potatoes, £510s to £0; onions, £13 to £14. , In consequence of the strikes the engi- • neers are being discharged, and the captains c are being placed on half pay. 1 Mass meetings of the gas stokers will be ( held to-morrow to consider the action to be j taken in the present crisis. { The woo) stevedores are still idle, and no , attempt has been made to employ non- J Unionists to load the wool, of which only a . small quantity has as yet arrived. August 22. Largo quantities of wines and spirits J have been cleared from the Customs, in 1 anticipation of the storemen and carters i being called out, in the event of which merchants would be unable to obtain delivery. Kerosene was also operated on, in consequence of a rumour to the effect that the gas stokers will go out on strike. Steamers are laying up, as they arrive in port. The wharf labourers have decided to discharge all the perishable cargoes which are already under way, and the money earned thereby will be devc ted to the strike fund. i It is reported that the contributions of the various labour organisations to the fund will amount to £20,000 per week. The whole of the Bulli coal mines are laid idle in consequence of the strike. Liter. The gas works have on hand a supply of coal for five weeks, and the officials state that if the stokers strike they will be able to obtain other labour. Six thousand men are now on strike. There is only about a fortnight's sunply of potatoes on hand, and a month's supply of oats. The Labour Defence Committee, in order to prevent the unemployed accepting work, are providing thein with board and lodgin?. Mr Dibbs, the Loader of the Opposition, has given notice of a Dill to establish a Court of Conciliation in the labour difficulty. Latest. The Union Co.'s steamers Oh an and Taieri and the mail steamer Mariposa are being discharged by their own crews. Practically all the organisations which can impede shipping have now called out their members. A strong feeling prevails among shipowners against employing non-l'nionists, and they prefer to remain passive, thus throwing the onus of a suspension of traffic on the labour bodies. At a meeting of the Employers and Shipowners Union to-day it was resolved to take steps to prosecute the Unions for conspiracy. The produce niarknt is still excited. Butter is selling at 3s lid retail and has advanced Is wholesale. Maize has risen 3d ; chaff, 10s ; and onions £3. Fifteen hundred Southern miners are idle, and many men have come to Sydney seeking employment. Mixjsouknk, August 21. The steamship owners of Melbourne will meet the Sydney owners at Altmry on Saturday, and confer on the situation. August 22. The wharf labourers have struck. The Shearers' Union now numbers 25,000 members, and they will stand by the seamen. The president states that if the capitalists go to extremes he believes the disput? will end in an open rebellion, for the men are determined if they are locked out to obtain supplies somehow. A OKI, Ml ik, August 20. The Coasting Steamers Union is not taking any action, as the men consider their interests are altogether separate from those of the olficers. Business is stagnant owing to the strike. The railways have a supply of coal on hand sufficient to last three months. Bhishank, August 21Mei chants, barristers, and many leadin? men in the city are assisting the clerks in unloading the various vessels at the wharves. Later. The Strike Committee have cabled to tho London Dockers' Union, asking if they are prepared for a general blockade of the British India Steamship Company's steamers at every port in the world. The Australian United Steamship Company deny the statement made this evening to the effect that they were expecting instructions from London to agree to the demands of the officers. Hoiiaht, August 21. Prices are advancing rapidly owing to the strike. Beef has advanced to£2 per lOOlbs, and ir.utton to £2 10s per 1001 bs. Newcastle, August 21. Freights to Melbourne have advanced from 4s to 255. and to Adelaide from 10s to 35s per ton. Tonnage is largely sought for New Zealand ports at fancy prices. (BY TELEOKAPIt. —PRESS ASSOCIATION). ] )i:nki)l\, Thursday. The Union S.S. Co. have received information that the wharf labourers at Sydney have refused to discharge the cargo of the Taieri, which arrived there this morning. The crew of the Waihora discharged that vessel, and she was to leave for Newcastle to-night.