THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 33, 2 September 1890, Page 2

THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE

♦ (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, August 30. In response to a cable message from Australia for monetary assistance in connection with the maritime strike, tho Dockers' Union wired to all branches in Great - Britain asking for special daily donations. They are also requesting help from other local unions. Half the first ~*iOOO contributed by the dockers>to the- Australian strikers will be sent to Melbourne and the remainder to Sydney. Collections were to be made on the London docks and wharves to-day. A huge demonstration is proposed, and posters will be got out inviting Britishers to rally for Australia. If the branches consent the National Sailors' Union will send a JBIOOO to -the colonies'. The coal porters and others are holding a meeting with a view of giving pecuniary assistance to the strikers. All the leading shipping bodies will be represented at the meeting on Tuesday. The Daily Telegraph denounces John Burns for introducing coercion into the labour agitation, and in the course of the same article warns the Trades Union Congress, which is to meet at Liverpool, against encouraging the modern developments of labour unions, The shipping Gazette says that London is gradually losing its position as the centre of the world's commerce. Capital it remarks, cannot be cribbed and confined by the dock labourers, who are better paid and work shorter hours than was. the case previous to the gre it dock strike. " It is unlikely that the proposal to work" the docks -on ' the co-operative principal will come to anything, both shipowners and dockers being' opposed to it. ■ A correspondent writing to St. James Guzette, insinuates that secretaries of Au -Indians Labour Unions enrich them -clv.es by selling the right, to^work to outsiders. The Standard says it would be a national disgrace if; the dockers did not assist the Australians. \. . .. ■ Bkussbls, August 29. There is great excitement amongst the coalminers at Mons, and, as a disturbance is feared, the military are being held in readiness to preserve order. Chicago, August 30. The strike of the switchmen employed in the railway stock yards in this city has collapsed. Sydney, A urus! 31. The Secretary of the Shearer's Union announces that he is ready with .£IOO,OOO. Seven thousand ' Unionists, principally strikers, paraded the streets yesterday afternoon, and .held .a huge meeting in the Exhibition Building, which was attended by upwards ,of 10,000 people. A resolution was carried unanimously that as the principal of Unionism is threatened by the monopolists, this meeting declares the right of labour to combine for mutual defence ' and advancement, and it must be maintained in the interests of Australian democracy. The speakers deprecated the Newcastle riot, which they said coidd have been prevented had the Government done its duty. i , September 1; Eeplying to the offer of the Labor Unions to provide 500 men as special constables, Government declined, expressing regret at the recent action of some' of the strikers in maltreating fellow laborers who-were pursuing a lawful calling, despite the assurance of the Unions that they would maintain a peaceable attitude. -• The. treasurers of the various Unions state that unless a settlement is effected within a week the whole of the labor organisations will be directed to withdraw their funds from the -various banks and place them in a bank to be estab--1 lished by the Labor Defence Committee. Tlie proceedings of the Miner.-*' Conference are being-conducted privately., The crews of the steamers Taieri and Tnrawera have been discharged. The Ohaii's refnse to leave ihe vessel, nud the Xiararoa's have refused duty. The s : i pm -lit i.f fish by the latter vessel has been inuded; The Tasmahian S.JN". Co npany now lias the Mel noiirne-Tasmanian trade in its own hands.' The Australiftu United S.N. Company have the Svdney»Queens« land, while Ale'hmrne " traffic is at a standstill. Both Howard^Smith's and Messrs Huddart, Parker and' Co.'s fleets are wholly laid up. The Government are erecting . barri* cades on the Peninsula Company's wharf. The men strike are much incensed at this action. 'Newcastle August 31. A number of cases of shanghaeing free labourers is reported. One was. found in a gutter, drugged, and he had apparently been assaulted.. ■ • - ' - Adelaide, August 31, The Trades Council -has written to the Chamber of Commerce stating that their Executive is prepared to meet the Steam - owners' Association and employers in conference on Monday. The Trades Council bitterly resent the action of the Government in calling out the military. The police have warned the Union' pickets patrolling the wharves and gasworks to desist, or they would be arrested. September 1. i Leading Unionists assure the Press that the Maritime Council deeply regret undertaking to fight the battle of the officers, who are merely using the seamen to secure their own demands. MfiLBOUKSE, A ugus t 31. In order, to conserve the gas supply the city will be without gas to-night,; and it is not likely that any' of "tlie, church services will be held. September 1. A meeting of 50,000 workmen was held in Flinders Park /yesterday. Some Socialists took part in the meeting and delivered harangues, to a section , of the crowd, advocating rifles and dynamite; to secure the abolition of the capitalist class. Public feeling against the leaders of the strike is strengthening since it has been generally recognised there was no necessity for calling out: the gas-^stokers, except with a view of terrorising and coer-. ing the opinion of the-public. :; ...... ihe larrikins have .set fire to a shed erected by free labour. Freights were raised another 25 per cent to-day. '.'■:'. Wellington,' September 1. The Hon. McLean states that the Takapuna will be laid up at Wellington immediately and her crew transferred to another vessel, possibly the Penguin. There are now ten Union Comi any's steamers here; nine of which are; affected by the strike. ' / ; - 7 -.:• Napier, ; September 1; The rail way servants to-night, by a lar^e mi»j ority, agreed A on a general strike, but? under extfaprdino^ circumstances I ; 7W?STPOBT, August 29.,:; When the miners left the mine at Den;niston on Friday the stores were rushed ■f.>r proyisions. A .jUierchnnt informs me [that there are only] twa weeks 'supplies, '.there. Puckihgor carting ; has not been commenced. There -is rib •■.■ sign oL the trains being re- started* One toVri'store-

keeper alone delivered eighty tons of goods in two days: ' All the railway hands here are out. The local men have received word that a -^ general railway strike throughout the Colony is arranged, ttuxumrf, September 1. Mr Donald field's ordinary hand? having refused to convey produce to the Te Auau, he sent for his hands from the country. These attempted this morning to take produce to the wharf, but after loading up the drays were get on by a crowd, who emptied the contents of the carts into the street, There was much excitement in the neighbourhood. Two hundred special constables have been sworn in.

The Commissioners have issued the following circular to all employes: — " Tlie Bailway Commissions regret toinform employes that owing l» the stoppage i« steamshipping business and diminished railway traffic, and con* sequent large loss of revenue resulting therefrom, they are compelled to stop the trains running and to reduce expenditu:e to. a corresponding degree- A suspension of operations will be arranged to distribute the work as fairly as pos* sible, and so : as not to inflict individual hardship, not less than four day's pay per week is at present to be arranged for. As a continuance of working pn certain sections also depends largely- upon the supply of hnrd coal, more extensive re« dilutions must follow at in early date. The Commissioners hope that if the coal supplies are forthcoming trade and traffic muy warrant a speedy resumption of the tram services.