GREAT LABOR CRISIS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1939, 5 September 1889, Page 1

GREAT LABOR CRISIS.

THE STRIKE IN LONDON. London, August 81. The police arc reported to sympathise with the dock men, and it is believed that they cannot bo relied on in case of a riot. Burns expects to be arrested for the part he has played in the affair, and has arranged for a successor to replace him in the leadership of the Socialist party. Panic and riots are feared. It is'’expected.,, that by Monday there will be 250,000 men on strike. The dpck 1 owners show no signs of giving way. , "Hie utmost they will agree to is to offer ; f)d per hour and promise to endeavor .to pay for piece-work at the rate of 6d per hour. The men insist on 6d for regular work. dlfeifc- - Two thousand East End iailofs have struck for a decrease in hours and an increase in wages, and it is expected that the number will increase to 20,000. The shipowners have insured their property against injury by riots to the extent of two million pounds. . Sept. 2.

Strikers have issued a new manifesto in which they declare that they will continue the strike until their original demands have been granted, An appeal is made to all societies throughout the whole country for assistance. The strike has cost the P, and 0, Company £45,000 during the past fortnight. The Salvation Army, with Mr Buxton, M.P., and others, are providing food for thousands of strikers’ families. Funds are urgently needed to overt absolute starvation. Further large contributions are anticipated from America and Australia. The stonemasons in America have promised to remit £IOO weekly. ' The strikers’ cause is being warmly advocated by « number of members of Parliament, including Messrs Creraar, Graham, Stuart, and James Rowlands. At n large, meeting of wharfingers resolutions were carried advising the men to accept the terms offered by the dock companies, Tlio dock companies will to-morrow forward a reply to the application of the shipping companies for permission to engage their own laborers to discharge vessels. Greet precautions have been taken to suppress any intimidation on the part of those on strike. The strikers’ meeting in Hyde Park was of an orderly character, Burns said that the marks of sympathy they had received from the colonies were true federation. Parleying has ended, and the men are averse to surrendering to the dock-owners. The meeting was smaller than the last. The dock-owners say that they will only negotiate with their employees. The pickets are being doubled. The agreement between the wharfingers and the shipowners has collapsed. The strikers are quiescent, Eight hundred “ blacklegs ” are housed and employed in the docks. The directors of the companies allege that Burns has just invited seven thousand strikers to invade the docks and remove these men, and have appealed to Mr Matthews, the Home Secretary, for help. Police have been despatched to their assistance. Sept. 3. The Trade Unions Cangress at Dundee have advised the various trade unions to render financial support to the men on strike in London, The directors of the dock companies have refused to see Burns, who is acting for the strikers, owing to his insulting behaviour, They assert that they can procure abundance of labour if the menaces of the strikers are suppressed. The ship-owners are strongly inclined to revolt at the action of the dock companies. The strikers are enfeebled by hunger, Melbourne, Sept, 3. At n mass meeting of sympathisers with the London strike £I7OO was collected, Sydney, Sept. 3, The local Seamen’s Union to-day voted the first instalment of £SOO in aid of the London dock strikers.