THE LABOUR DIFFICULTY

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 52, 18 October 1890, Page 3

THE LABOUR DIFFICULTY

(PEE UNITED PEESS A8SO0IATIOW.) Loudon, October 1 5 . Th© Plymouth dockers are striking in ©r-.er to compel the owners to stop emplo;> i.\<£ free labourers. Thr- London dock owners are increasing i.iC number of permanent hrnis and ignore the Unionists. Sydwet, October 16. The employers have formally written to Sir Alfred Stephen (the Lieut.-Gover-nor), who agreed to mediate in the present labour diffioulty, reiterating their determination to stand by the free labourers who had taken 'the place of the men on strike, and suggesting that he should use his influence to induce the men to act wisely and return to work on the terms laid down by the employers, Dunedik, October 16. The eight seamen of the Bhip Hurunui ■wno refused to discharge the cargo appeared at the police Court to-day, charged with dlsobevinglawful commauds. After evidence had been taken all the accused were committed and sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment with hard labour, wilh an alternative of going to work. The men, through their solicitor, announced their determination not to go to work, but they were given 24 hours to consider the matter. The R.M.S. Aorangi, after discharging and loading a large amount of cargo by non-Union labour, took her departure for Wellington to-day. Assaults continue to be made on free labourers at Port Chalmers. The other night oneman had two ribs broken and another had his jaw injured by a kick. The offenders have not been discovered, and this is the first public intimation ol the affair. Several more free labourers have beer secured for the West Coast mines, anc leave this week. Most of them are experienced miners. M*xboubnk. Octol-er 17Mr Champion has cabled to Mr Burn! that the strike is grossly mismanaged and even a twenty thousand pounds loar cannot prevent its total failure. A strike is threatened in the butche in< trade. The masters insist on Sunday work, but the workmen resist this. Tl.is Day The Marine Officers have written t< the steamship ©vrners taking advantasji of the olrVr of the lalter to meet and dis ' cuss reasons why ihey left their employ mjeiiti ■' The Owners replied fixing Mou day for thfc conference. ' * -. ' >