GREAT LABOR CRISTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1940, 7 September 1889, Page 1

GREAT LABOR CRISTS.

THE STRIKE IN LONDON. London, Sept, 3. The number of strikers is increasing. An advance in wages has been granted to the postal carmen, gas stokers, machinists, and other trades to an extent equal on the whole to a year. The riverside men on strike, who number 100,000, are dependent on the donations of others for support, but the remainder of the strikers belong to their respective unions, which are self-supporting. The dock men have now formed a union which 14,000 men have already joined. Ths directors of the 1 dock companies refuse to negotiate with Tillet, the chairman of this union. The announcement of the collection of £I7OO at the Melbourne meeting has been received with great enthusiasm. Sixty strikers scaled the walls of the Albert Docks for the purpose of coercing the men at work, but were expelled. An attempt to sink the dock tug also failed. The dock laborers in the grain and flour sections at' Liverpool have struck for a shilling a day advance. The movement in that city threatens to spread, The London Dock Companies haye declined the ship-owners’ proposals and suggests that a joint committee of the two interests should be appointed to consider the whole situation ; this has been agreed to and the committee meets to-day. Ten thousand tailors, cabinet-makers, and cigar-makers, have joined the strikers. Sept. 4.

Work at the wharves is gradually being resumed. One hundred thousand shilling relief tickets were issued yesterday, and these were only sufficient to palliate suffering. The strikers express their willingness to abate the original demands with regard to the ship-owners and wharfingers, owing to the kindness received at their hands, but are determined not to forego ona jot to the dock companies. Burns repudiates the allegations of inciting the strikers to violence. The receipts now average £2OOO per day. Relief is limited' to food, except in the case of men on picket duty. Employers at Liverpool have conceded an advance of a shilling a day to the corn carriers.

Ihe steamer Ligu'riarwhich had been detained some days, sailed for Australia to-day, The New Zealand Shipping Company’s Kaikoura has succeeded in landing 6000 carcases of mutton, Out of 900,000 members of various trade unions 40,000 have given a vote in favor of the 6 hours system while 63,000 opposed it. The remaining members were silent on the question. Sept. 5.

The vast majority of the laborers on the wharves in Middlesex have resumed work, and some ®f those on the Surrey side. The strikers’ committee are yielding to the demands of the wharfingers and granary merchants, and have allowed the strikers to resume work where the demands have been conceded. The dock companies propose a conference with the ship-owners relative to unloading vessels at the earliest possible moment.

The strike is extending to the iron, building, and timber trades, although not lo general trades. The steamer Fifeshire is half unloaded, but only a small portion of the Kaikoura’s cargo has been taken out. The Tainui’s departure is indefinite. Mr Gladstone has been visiting the homes of the strikers, and has subscribed to the funds. The latter are increasing in amount.

Burns says that the strike at Liverpool will counteract the sending of the shipping thither ; also at Glasgow. Similar steps will be taken at Southampton, if necessary. Canon Holland and the Revs. Messrs Meason and Lester, who are among the leading clergy of the East End of London, have sent letters of sympathy to the strikers.

Fifteen thousand pickets ore distributed about tbe docks. Lord Mayor Whitehead will mediate in October between the men and the dock companies. Auckland, 6ept. 5. The Knights ot Labor have opened lists for subscriptions in aid of the London dock strikers. The amalgamated 1 Society of Railway Employees have voted £25. Wellington, Sept. 5, Several trade unions have resolved to contribute towards the London strike funds. Dunedin, Sopt, 5. The Federated Seamen’s Union have voted £2OO, Sydney, Sept. 5. Meetings are being held generally over Australia to express sympathy with the strikers. Up to yesterday £IOO had been collected in Sydney, £3OO in Hobart, £3500 in Victoria, £SOO in South Australia, and £7OO in Queensland. Melbourne, Sept, 4. The Seaman’s Union voted £3OO and |hc Iradeg Council hnf collected £2400,