LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2091, 28 August 1890, Page 3

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, Aug. 2A. British shipowners have combined to crush the labor unions. They propose to withdraw ships from the trade and recoup the losses of their owners, Mr John Burns ridicules them. English Sailors Unions are pledged to support the Australians, A mass meeting at Tower Hill passed a vole of sympathy with the Australians, Aug. 25. Two thousand harvesters io Dublin County have struck. Mr John Burns writes that the English workmen are willing to assist their brethren in Australia, and are confident that the latter will ba victorious before help is available to the capitalists. Brussels, Ang. 25. Seventeen thousand men are out on strike in Belgium. Nbvt Yomx, Ang. 25. The Supreme Council, while endorsing Grand Master Workman Powderley’a position with respect to the Central Railway strike, have refused to order a general strike. Vanderbilts railway men decline to strike. Sydney, Ang. 25. Australian unionists offer their services to the Governm°nt Co supply the necessaries of life to all parties. The number on strike is rapidly increasing, The New Zealand steamers Tarawera and Taieri were being discharged by their crews, but the men refused duty.

Employers have changed the name “ blackleg ”to “ free labor,” Ihe coal miners propose not to supply coals to certain steamers. The P. and O. steamer got away to time. 800 soft goods employes volunteer to discharge warehousemen’s goods. The demand made by tba men would amount to £200,000 a year, Some vessels will be laid np and the men thrown oat of employment. Aug. 26. There is no material change in strike matters. The Shearers’ Union have forwarded its first instalment of JBIO,OOO to assist the strikers. The Union Company’s steamers Oban, Tarawera, and Taieri are being unloaded by free labor, of whjcb there is plenty i available. The employers have established ■ labor bureau where non-nnionists can apply for work. The stewards and cooks still remain on the Union Company’s vessels. Aug. 27. The miners in the Wallsend colliery have struck. The princidal Broken Hill silver mines are shutdown for want of fuel. About one thousand free laborers are employed, beathed, and fed on the wharves. The Marine Engineers have by a majority of fourteen disapproved of the action of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in calling the men out, Newcastle, Aug. 26. The Agricultural Company’s men have struck, and there is every probability of a general strike in the coal trade. A large crowd rushed the steamer Quyder, dragged the free laborers from their work, and severely need them, ihe men were ultimately rescued by the police.

Brisbane, Aug, 25. Owing to some disturbance special constables have been sworn In,

, [ Aag. 26. There is a good deal of excitement over the labor difficulty at Rockhampton, where public sympathy is against the strikers, and the shopkeepers have refused to give credit to the latter, Volunteers are rapidly discharging vessels. Aug. 27, The police have been reinforced by 150 on the permanent force under arms, who will be called oaf in esse of emergency. ; Milbourm, Aag. 26. Unionists assaulted a party of laborers, ; who bad to seek refuge at the police station. The orew of the Tasmanian steamer Flinders have refused to strike, Aug. 27. The gas stokers have gone out on strike, bnt the Gas Company are confident they will be able to maintain the supply by free labor. At a meeting of employers it was resolved to urge employers who are not already members of the onion to join at once, so as to ensure united action being taken in repelling the unjust demands of the labor organisations. Arrangements have been made to run coal trains from New South Wales, as the north-east railway system is dependent of that colony for its coal supply. Hobart, Aug. 25. Several vessels have been despatched from Launceston with non-unionist crews. There was some excitement but no disturbance.

NEW ZEALAND. The Typographical Society of Napier condemned Mr Oreagh for his threat to boycott the Hawke’s Bay Herald, on the ground that if unionism burked criticism it would become a power for evil instead of good. Mr Creagb convened a meeting of wharf laborers, and condemned tbe action of the Maritime Council in taking up Whitcombe and Tombs’ case. In Napier Ihe Harbor Board men struck for 15d per hour, and their places have been filled by blacklegs. The following manifesto has been put forward bj the Union Steam Ship Company “ The directors of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand have arrived at the conclusion with much regret that the present policy of tbe labor unions of all Australaaia, which bSs led to the imminent paralysis of trade in all the colonies, and which has kept np a constant irritation and unbearable uncertainty in all departments of trade for some months past, is the outcome of a general determination on their part to try their strength with all employers of labor. There has been no dispute of any serious character in New Zealand, and the disputes in Australis cannot be considered to bear any relation to the measures adopted by tbe onions. The directors have, therefore, no alternative left bat to fall in with the resolutions of the Steamship Owners’ Association and other -employers of labor, and support them to the utmost of their power in opposing the encroachments of the labor noioos by every possible means until it is found that negotiations can be reopened with some prospect oi such a settlement as will enable them to conduct their business with some degree of comfort and confidence, They have no hesitation in declaring that the wages paid by them for many years are such as no reasonable men can complain of, and that their relations with ail classes of their men bSve always been such as they have a right to regard with satisfaction, and therefore they unhesitatingly throw the whole responsibility of tbe very serious disorganisation which is about to ensue upon tbe shoulders jf tbe leaders of the unions.

Mr Millar explains that this action is taken because the Union Company are connected with the Shipowners’ Association, and the only way in which a satisfactory settlement can be arrived at would be by the Union Company seceding from that association' and paying the men in their employ the rates: which the Australian shipowners refuse to give. The tampers will discharge the ship here, bat no cargo will be pat on board by union labor. The Seamen’s Union do not wish to interfere with the vessels running along oar coasts, bat the Union Company have decided to lay np all their vessels. The seamen are willing to oat adrift from the Australian strikers if the Union Company will cut adrift from the Australian shipowners. The Railway employes haye voted £IOO to the Australians, and premise £SOO per month. The Union Company have withdrawn all advertisements from the papers. Wbm.ih«toh, Aug. 17.

Shortly after noon to-day Mr Taylor, secretary to the local branch of the Seamen’s Union, requested all seamen and firemen on the Union Company’s vessels in port to give 24 hoars’ notice of their intention to leave the ship. The men complied with the request, and go oat at noon to-morrow. Only the Union Company’s vessels are effected, Dwkbdin, Aug. 27.

The local secretaries of the Marine Engineers Asoooiation deny that they are ;in any way associated with the Maritime or other organisations, and decline to take notice of instructions of the former.

The crew of the Wairarapa left the ship at noon, in the presence of a large crowd assembled on the wharf, It is stated that several fresh men have been engaged and it is believed a crew will be obtainable to-morrow, In consequence of this engagement of free labor 24 hours’ notice bus been given to all seamen to leave the coasting vessels,

The crews of the Brunner and Bunk's Peninsula leave at noon to-morrow.

Only fifteen of the Wairarapa’s crew have yet left! the ship. A good deal of free labor is offering from the nonb as well as here.