THE LABOUR DIFFICULTY

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 48, 7 October 1890, Page 3

THE LABOUR DIFFICULTY

London. October 4. There is a general cessation of work in ithe Scotch iron trade owing to the masters declining to accede to the request of the men for. eight hours per day. The Dockers' Congress has resolved to *irge Parliament to prevent the passage of the Foreign Contract Labour Bill, and has decided that the eight hours system is unsuitable to dock labour, though where possible it should be enforced. ■-:■•' Sydney, October 5. It is stated on what appears to be good authority that .the wharf labourers will return to work on Tuesday. Arrangements are- in progress for a regular supply of coal from China, Japan, and . other places, and if successfully carried but, the Shipping and Gas Company,are not likely- to suffer mat rially if the colliers, remain out on strike. The employers- have completed arrangements" .for engaging all wharf la: ourers through one channel, and only men of good character are to be taken on. The employers state that this course is nee essary as a number of objectionable characters are anronj this class of labour who prejudice good men. There ire now more officers offering than, there is employment for, and tue employers have determined not to entertain the proposal for a Conference unless the minute of the Sydney Conference is agreed to in its entirety. - ' October 6.

The Labor Defence Committee has not decided to allow the shearers to enter into new contracts, A general holiday was observed to-day, and for the time being strike matters were overshadowed by the great tight Hours' Demonstration. A procession, in which fully 30,000 people took part, marched through the streets. A serious riot occured at the Hibernian picnic at Chowder Bay. , A mob of two hundred larrikins rushed the pavilion; and a general melee* followed, in which sticks, stones, arid branches of trees were used as weapons. A large force of police were despatched to the scene and quelled the .disturbance. Forty of the rioters were arrested. During the scrimmage many persons were severely hurt. . Melbourne, October 6. The strike committee has decided that to be perfectly satisfactory any conference for the settlement of the difficulty must be perfectly untrammelled by conditions. They decline to accept the Sydney minute until it has been fully discussed by the conference. A leading firm has cabled Home to ascertain whether in view of the difficulties in the way of shearing and loading wool, arrivals after the opening of the next feries of sales will be included. Areply was received to the effect that there wns no pro>pect of this being done, but if the supply proves snmll the. first series of 1891 will probably open earlier than usual. This Day. j The Gas Company has a supply of coal that will enable them to continue until Christmas. Private stocks in the city are practically exhausted. Auckland, October 6. " The Hotels and Eestaurant KmployeV Union have resolved to discontinue the The members of the Trade Unions at Onehunga held a demonstration there on Saturday Delegates wer» present from Auckland. The men marched through the m*«a;Btreet and listened to speeches, the proceedings closing with three cheers for Sir George Grey. _.'.-.■ This Day. .sb9 Kawakawa coal m/nere started $o

Wffck again this morning. A number of the TJaion boats are expected nt the Bay -of Islands shortly to coal. The strike at the Bay of Islands is. absolutely at an end. • DrNEifi.v, Octoder 6 Four of the Hillside Workshops hands have received a fortnight's notice of dismissal owing to retrenchment. Mr Newton, president of the local branch of railway servants is one. Wellington, October 6 There are now about 60 officers employed on the Union Company's vessels. 32 ot these are officers who iefused to go out on strike. 35 of tho offi- er-; who went out on strike hare applied 10 the Union Company to be reinstated.