THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE. Three Opposition Steamers Chartered. (From "Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1887, Page 5

THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE. Three Opposition Steamers Chartered. (From "Auckland Star.")

We are informed that all the difficulties experienced by the Seamen's Union in chartering suitable boats to oppose the Northern Company have been surmounted, and it was expected that the charters would be signed to-day, and the boats sent to take up the running at the earliest possible date. The three steamers which have been arranged for include vessels that are considered specially suited for the most payable trades upon which the steamers of the Northern Steamship Company are at present engaged. It is proposed to run one steamer in opposition to the s.s. Gairloch, on the West Coast, the trade between Manukau, Waitara and intermediate ports having of late become of considerable importance. This trade requires a shallow draughtsteamer,and it is most probable that the s.s. Invercargill will be the one chosen by the Union to take up the opposition running against the Gairloch. The Invercargill is a steel screw steamer of 223 tons register and fitted with engines of 50 h. p. Her dimensions are 128 ft. 7in x 20ft. lin. ■^ Bft. Tin. She was built at Dunedin in iBSo, and is owned by D. Ramsay and C, F. Sudstrom, Another steamer, having a speed equal to ten knots an hour, is to be placed on the trade between Whangarei and this port, of which the s.s. Wellington has at present a monopoly. It is proposed to run three trips a week instead of two as run by the Northern Company, and as this i 3 also a payable trade, the competition for both cargo and passengers will no doubt be very keen. The third steamer, which is to take up the running against the Clansman, will most probably be one of the Union Company's smaller vessels, about the size of the Wanaka, and she will bo employed in the trade between this port, Russell, Whangaroa and Mongonui. It is yet uncertain whether the Union will interfere with the Tauranga or Mercury Bay trade. The steamers chartered by the Union are to be docked at Port Chalmers as speedily as possible, and sent on to this port, and it is understood that the officers and crews engaged to bring them up the coast will be discharged here. This arrangement will most likely be made in fairness to the men who came out on strike from the Northern Company's steamers and who are at present receiving L 6 per month ashore. Local captains, mates, stewards, and engineers can be obtained without difficulty, the Auckland branch of the Union having already had applications from more than they will require to fill all the positions available, and a selection will be made as early as possible. i During the present; strike a levy will [be made upon all members of the Union employed in vessels trading out of the colony to provide funds for carrying on the strike. The New Zealand Union is said to include between 1,000 and 1,500 men, the greater portion of whom are employed on the Union Steamships Company's steamers. The Seamen's Union according to their rules can levy LI per head on all of their members in employment, and it is expected such a levy will be made throughout New Zealand from the first of the present month. The levy, Ihowever, may be 10s per head or even much lese, according to requirements. The accumulated funds of the Federated Union of New Zealand amount to L 3,000 or L 4,000, the annual income from subscriptions, etc., being about LI 9O. This, along with a levy per month, is considered sufficient to carry on the strike, without any assistance being asked for from Australia. The Federated Union of Australia, however, is expected to stand by the New Zealand branch in case of necessity. Its accumulated funds amount to something like L 20,000, and great assistance could be rendered from this source. The struggle consequently is scarcely one of capital agaiast labour, for whilst the Northern Steamship Company are prepared to maintain their position re the reduction of wages to the bitter end, with all the money at their command, the Federated Union are as equally determined to oppose them, and are backed up by funds large enough, at all events, to carry on a lengthy struggle. It is expected that the opposition steamers will commence running about the end of next week.

How times change. A writer says that thirty years ago a man who wore hair on his upper lip was considered either a lunatic or a foreigner. Now he may be both.