Asiatic Seamen on Mail Steamers. Chances of a Settlement.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 293, 25 August 1888, Page 3

Asiatic Seamen on Mail Steamers. Chances of a Settlement.

Two important meetings (says the Sydney News) have be^n held in connection witli the maritime dispute. The Maritime Council met a*; the hall in Su&sex-sti'eeb and discussed the situation. The result of the discussion was the passing of a resolution to the effect that a deputation ironi the Maritime Council should wait on the Mayor of Sydney and request him to preside at a public meeting ot citizens which ' would be called to protest again&b the extension of the mail contracts to any shipping companies employing Asiatic iabour. | The Coal Lumpers' Union also met with i closed doors. The object of the meeting | was the consideration of the question of I whether or nob the union should withdraw from the Maritime Council. After a long discussion tho question was" put, about 600 members being present, the result being that about 400 voted for remaining affiliated to the council. The Wharf Labourers also met and rescinded a previous resolution, excluding the press from their meeting. Notwithstanding all cnis, however, from information received, there are a great many reasons for believing that the dispute between the steamship owners and the Fedeiated Seamen 'cs Union will not result in a strike, ab any rate for the present. This a&tfeibion muse, however, be qualified by the remark bhat fche action of the Newcastle miners is not heio considered, and their going upon strike will in a great measuie influence the seamen. It should not be forgotten that twenty-four houis' notice from the seamen is all thatis required by their agreement befoie going upon Strike, and that the threat to strike still hangs over the headt of the mastets. The threat may, therefore, be carried into eflect ab a day s notice. A Melbourne authority on the subject says that the delegates to the maritime conference on returning to Melbourne expressed dissatisfactiou with the action of the conference, and there is no doubt whatever, that, although there has been a great deal said to the contrary, two important bodies, that must influence the teamen greatly, are strongly in favour of avoiding an open rnptuie.