MARITIME STRIKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2835, 13 September 1890, Page 2

MARITIME STRIKE.

SPECIAL CONSTABLES AT WELLINGTON. THE MEAT SUPPLY FOR UNION COM I'A NY'S STK AM IS KS. ACCIDENT ON TIIE AUSTRALIA. CO-OPERATIVE SPORE TO BE OPKN HI). COOKS AND STEWARDS RETURNING TO WORK. BREACHES OF THE PEACE. UNTON AND NON-UNION YTEWS Till' POSITION.

(lIV TKI.KOHAI7H—OW.N "JOLIUKSI'ONIJKNT.) Auckland, Last Night. TIiEUK is nothing now regarding the strike. Tho carters liiivo resumed work unconditionally. Tho mnjority wore ro-cngiigod, but some arc out of employment.

(lIY Tr.LHCUAI'H. — I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, Last Night. Strike matters are quiet to-day. Notions were served on -100 residents ;o servo as special constables, and of iiose about 2.J0 were sworn in tins iftornoon. This notion was taken to jrevent a. repetition of last night's ■iotous behaviour. In an interview with a Times rewrter the President of the Federated Trades Council said that one of the nosfc difficult questions to settle in connection with the present dispute was non-Uniwiiis' labour, and though mxious for a settlement ho would not submit to tho finishing of the Unions, lie a'.so mentior.ed that money w;is ■•oaring i" w^ l illld tuorG wili! 110 i:in"-er about funds. Mr Fisher, Secretary of the Council, stated there were 10,000 Unionists in the colony ind ho calculated there, were about I'JOO men on strike here and about [}>{)() all over the colony. Mr Fisher, is President of the Maritime Council, <:iiii the two pirties in Australia should bo compelled to settle their ;liniculty within a given time, and failing doing so the shipowners and Unions in New Zealand should recede from those in the other colonies, N"ow Zealand has nothing to complain of and all that is wanted is to revert to status quo ante. Die Council, he says, are quite willing to withdraw and support thu Union* Company, but would not if mijiloyevs and employed should combine to force them to it. Several employers, >vheu interviewed.said the Unionists must amend l.lio i ule which forbids members ot a I'ni.m working alongside free; labour, ind in all cases employers will resist coercion among workmen. They added that a clear and distinct agreement had been come to lamong employers ind all free workers who had taken Ihe place t.f the strikers shall be retained. All agreed there was no scarcity of labour. The man Gerrard. who was knocked chnvn tho hold of the steamer Australia, by a free labourer named Adams, who was working on the vessel, is Miiffiiriug from injury to the qjine, and lies in a precarious condition. . ~ , Adams states he was struck hrst, tud only acted in self-defence. He was bronght up at the Magistrates riourt this morning and remanded, Thomas r, fi wis and Collier wen charged with assault. Mr Jelliooc saiJ I In- Maritime Council had now Issued a manifesto calling on all Unionists to keep order and dr heir best to preserve peace. He idded that the Maritime Council >vo>ld not in future bo responsible for Uiy rows, and the individuals concerned in them could not look to these jorii's for support or protection, they would have to answer the charges on ;heir own account. The Crown Prosecutor said in the face of this statement he would, seeing assaulb ,vers not of a serious UL'ture, ask that he charges be withdrawn. MrKobinion M.~SL, agreed to this. The Court ,vas crowded to suitocation, and there iviis some applause when tho decision A-iis announced, lsut it was quickly mppresst-d. The charges against T. lioveridgc, for obstructing and lmat•.ig ; and Andrew Xelson and Nicholas ■"•ijo'forlas were remanded until Tues

The arbitrators appointed to consider the question of the Gear Moat Co supplying the Union Co.'s vessels with meat to-day. It was admitted that that was tho issue upon which to arbitrate, and it Was agreed that if the contract was Imskcii tin; Union Co. wculd reap tho advantage, inasmuch us they would receive a penalty of £'-K)0, for which the Gear Co. render themselves liable. The result of the meeting is that tho Gear Co. coiuiuue to supply tho vessels as usual. There was considerable excitement iiVmt the? Queens Wharf in the hitter part of this afternoon, it being; anticipated that further attempts might be. made to molest tho free labourers when leaving the wharf. One hundred and thirty-three special constables, drswn from the special business -ion of the city, who had been sworn into-dnj, were paraded at 4 o'clock on that, portion of the whart which is barricaded and almost nil the city and country constables were also present Shortly after four o'clock a crowd began to collect, and by live o'clock there must have been quito 000 persons in the vicinity of the shore and the end of the wharf. The foot and mounted police, however, managed to keep the crowd oft' the wharf, so as tO | allow the free workers a clear pass. Nhoitly before five o'clock, a detachment ut special constables arrived with batons and wearing badges. They were despatched to various parts of thu town where it was thought violence might bo attempted. A few minutes after the knock oil'boll rang on the wharf ■ind the free labourers could be seen nomiii"- to the numbers of a dozen, and excitement ran high. They made straight for the town, and were protected by a detachment of special and ordinary constables. The men walked up the centre of the road, through the Custom house, Willis and Ma.v ner's-streets, and to their homes nnder escort. The streets were thronged principally by those attraded out of curiosity, and all wheel traffic was iilmost entirely suspended for a time. At each street comer a vast crowd had congregated and the constables had <.o force a passage. There ,vas a considerable amount of horse play and hooting galore ; but no indication of a hostile denionshatioii, crowds being about tho streets until C o'clock when they gradually dispersed. The special constables, who, on more than one occasion were cheered were then dismissed until tomorrow; they having been sworn m tu render service until the ~oth inst, A man named Jus. Condin was given in custody for a breach of the peace, but it is understood he had nothing to do with Hie labour dispute.

William Henry Gerrard, who was knocked down the hold of the steamer Australia, yesterday, is rapidly sinking, and it. is doubtful whether he will live the night out. Detective Kirby proceeded to the hospital this afternoon, to take his depositions, but the sufferer was in too low a wondition to obtain anything additional, though he recognised the detective -m his appearance. Latest. The Unionists intend to start a cooperative store. Strike pay begins to-morrow. It has been ascertained that Gerrarl's back is broken, and he is not expected to live till morning. Over lit) cooks a.nd stewards have returned to the Union Company's service. Two men were nrreslel for a breach of tlie peace this afternoon, one of them for jeering at the special constables.