THE DISPUTE AT SYDNEY. A DETERMINED STRUGGLE. BOYCOTTING RESOLVED UPON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 280, 11 July 1888, Page 3

THE DISPUTE AT SYDNEY. A DETERMINED STRUGGLE. BOYCOTTING RESOLV E D UPON .

For some time past negotiations have been going on betweon the' Federated Seamen's Union at Sydney and the owners of the >San Fvanci&co line of steameis with ' the object of replacing- the Chinese crews on board their vessels with Euiopean labour. Similai action has been taken in regaid to othei lines of steamers manned by Mongolians,, but until locently nothing definite has been armed at. The follow ing lettei, forwarded last year to Messrs J. and D. Spreckels by Mr T. M. Davis, Secretary ot the Seamen's. Union, will explain the terms submitted as a basis of settlement : — "September 7, 1887.— Meesrp J. and D. Spreckels. — Gentlemen, — A deputation from our society having been appointed to wait upon Captain Hay ward, of your s.s. Maiiposa, with a view to replacing the crews of your steamships trading to this port by our members, through the courtesy of your commander we weie shown through the engine-room, stoke hole and bunkers of the s.fc. Mariposa, and having ascertained the average consumption of coal to be about 50 tons per diem, the question of what number would be sufficient to man her was -brought before a general meeting of this society, and it Mas determined that we try the Mariposa with a complement of 12 firemen and nine coal passers. Should our members be able to woi'k her with that complement in the stokehole, we are prepared to enter into an agreement with your firm for any pciiod you may deem necessary not to cause your ships to be delayed in leaving this port through the withdrawal of crews or through the action of any combination of our members. And in view of your acceptance of these terms I may state that 1 oi my successors will give your commanders and officers all the a^si-tance necessary of good, sober and steady crews in your ships. We ate also pi epared to pay the wages of the Chinese crews from the date of our men starting to work until the arrival of the ship in Sau Francisco. The above are the terms that we are prepared to submit for your acceptance. As I knoAV that you arc thoroughly versed in all that is transpiring on this continent that would affect your interests, it is unnecessary tor me to dilate on the amount of importance attached to the Chinese question at the present time in these colonies and the strong sentiments expressed at the various public roettingb lately, and comments made in our Legislative Assembly about colonial subsidies being paid to your steamships manned by Chinese crews, but we have until now done nothing in the matter publicly, although receiving many taunts through the press. But as your contract for these mails is now nearly expired we have decided to use our utmost endeavours to present a repetition of the present contract, and I am certain that one of the clauses that will be inserted in the new contract will be the uon -employment of Chinese or Asiatic laboui . I ha\e delated writing to you, owing to a report that you were on your way here. Hoping that you ay ill see the ad\antagc accruing to your line of ships by the acceptance of the terms." This communication was handed to Captain Hay ward, of the >-.c. JNlariposa, tor transmission to Messrs SpreekeU, Mr Davis being informed at the time that one of tho firm would be shortly in Australia, and would then settle the whole matter. Since then, however, the Secretary of the Union states that no communication has been received in answer to the above letter. Ln the face of this fact the seamen i consider themselves justified in protecting the interests of the various .maritime bodies, and they think this cannot be done so long as vessels are allowed to enter Port Jackson manned by Chinese crews. A meeting of representatives of the Federated Seamen's Union, Wharf Labourers, Coal-lumpers and Stewards and Cooks' Associations, was held in Sydney to consider the - matter. A Maritime Council was formed to deal with the subject. A final course of action was determined upon. It aims at nothing less than the extirpation of every form ol Chinese labour in connection with ships. To this end the co-operation of every trade society in the land has been invoked, and one great united ciTorl is to l?e made to put an end once for all to the competition of Chinese maritime labour with European. A ready response has been made to the appeal of the seamen and their fellows, and many of theland i organisations have already joi< ed hands ' with thorn, and it is anticipated that within a short time the whole labour organisations of the country will be as one man with them. Mr J, M. Davis, Secretary of the Maritime Labour Council, formally notified Mr Jackson, manager of the Union Steamship Company, that "in tho event of the Alameda arriving in port with any portion of her Mongolian crow the membeis of the various societies represented on and affiliated to the council Avould refuse to hew, trim, carry, or in any way assist in coaling, discharging, or loading the vessel." At a meeting of the Newcastle branch of the New South Wales Labourers' Protective Society, a resolution was carried expressing its entire sympathy with the contemplated action ot the Maritime Labour Counoil to rid all vessels, trading to Australia of Chinese labour and pledged itself to support, if need be, such action. At the inaugural meeting of the Newcastle Coaltrimmers and Crane Employees' Union Mr W. Musto. President of the Federated Seamen's Union, was present and impressed upon the newly-formed union the important part they might soon be called upon to play in the impending struggle ngainst owners of Chinese-manned ships. He urged them to work in harmony Avith the Miners' Association and' other unions and become affiliated Avith the Maritime Labour Council

in Sydney. Ifc was slated at the meeting that steps, would, be taken to prevent any ship boycotted by the Maritime Labour Council of Sydney from procuring any coal in Newcastle. The Wallsend miners held a meeting the same night, and decided to support the seamen in their endeavours, to man those vessels carrying Chine&o crews with Europeans. At an anti-Chinese meeting held under the auspices of the Newcastle Wharflabourers'Union, resolutions pledging tae Wharf - labourers Union to boycott the Chinese and Europeans dealing with them, and undertaking to affiliate the uni^n to the newly-formed Maritime Labour Council, j Avere adopted. Auklaide, June 27. In view of the action of the Maritim. Council in (Sydney in giving notice to the agents of the Oceanic Steamship* Company that no Chinese must be employed in their boats, it is feared that should such attempt at coercing employersprove successful, there is every probability of a similai demand being enforced upon the P. and 0. Company, and also upon other lines employing Chinese labour. The annual meeting of the Employers' Union of South Australia will be held early next month. It is intended then to deal with the matter.