LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2093, 2 September 1890, Page 2

LABOR DISPUTES.

Londoh, Aug. 29. Great enthusiasm was displayed at the meeting of riverside workmen. Mr Burns said that defeat in Australia meant defeat in England. It is expected that £10,009 to £20,000 wiir be cabled to the Australian strikers during the course of the next fortnight. . The opinion is prevalent; that the time is at hand when the capitalists must chouse between the ■ trades unions and civil war. ■ The Southampton employers have refused to recognise the official dockers' union, though they are willing to grant the men’s demands. Aug. 80. The Dockers’, the Sailors’, and the Coal Porters’ Unions haye all decided to send pecuniary assistance. , Already £SOO to Melbourne and £6OO to Sydney has been sent by the dockers.—Alltha dockers of Great Britain will send a daily donation. The Associated Shipowners have re° solved at all costs to uphold the action io£» the Shipowners’ Association in Victoria in regard to marine officers dissociating themselves from other bodies. _ __ A scheme is on foot to form a Labor Association, the members of are to be. non-unionists. ... ■ ’ The Daily Telegraph denounces Mr John Burns for introducing coercion into the labor, agitation, and ia the course of the same article warns the Trades "Union Congress, which is to. meet at Liverpool, against encouraging the modern develop* ment of labor unions. Brussels, Aug. 29. Foreign agitators are being expelled from Belgium*. Aug. 29. There is great excitement amongst the coal miners at Monk, and a’disturbance Is feared. The military are being held 3in readiness to preserve order. Sydney, Ang. 30. The Mayor has commenced negotiations for bringing the strike to a conclusion. Free labourers are in excess ef the d*» mand.

Several thousand unionists, principally strikers, paraded the streets yesterday afternoon, and held a hnge meeting in the Exhibition buildings, which was attended by upwards of 10,000 people. A resolution was carried unanimouly “That as the principle of unionism is thre iteaed by monopolists, this meeting declares the right of labor to combine for mutual defence and advancement, and in the interests of Australian democracy. ’’ The speakers deprecated the Newcastle riot, which they said could have been prevented had the Government done their duty. Tne'secretary of the Shearers’ Union announces that he is ready with £IOO OQO, Newcastle;, Aug. 31. A number of cases of “ shanghning " free labo.era : isireponed. One of the fre* laborers was found in a gutter dragged, and he bad apparently been assaulted. Melbourne, Aug. 30. The city was left without gas last night, ihe Gas Company being desirous of saving what g*a they had for 10-night. The Government has issued a proclamation forbidding unluwful assemblies in the Trades Hall. The Trades and Labor Couoc 1 refused to hold ai confereupe with flip shipowners, owing to the letter's stipulation that the officers sbpuld withdraw from affiliation. The Employers’ Obion have considered a letter from the strike committee, suggesting that the time has arrived for a conference to discuss tbe basis of a settle* ment of the present difficulty. The Trades Council bitterly resent the action of the Government in oa'lihg out t|)e military. The police have warned union pickets patrolling tbe wharves and gaeworfis to dppist or they ryill be arrested- ‘ September 1. A meeting of 50,000 woikmen was he}d"" in Flinders Park yesterday. Soma Socialists took part in the meeting and delivered a harangue to a section of thp crowd advocating the use of rifies and dynamite to secure the abolition of the capitalist class. , ‘ ‘ c 5 Adelaide, Aug. 31. Tbe Trades and Labor Council have written to the Chamber of Commerce stating that their esegutive are prepared

to meet the Steamship Owners’ Association and the employers in a ‘ conference on Monday. -

NEW ZEALAND. ‘ The strike has become pretty general throughout New Zealand, On Friday last the wbarf laborers and many of the craws of coasting steamers having left work a coal famine was dreaded, and applications for a cargo of coal on the way from Newcastle poured in from all quarters, but all were refused. Sever >1 of the steamers were manned by free labor. The English mail steamer was not included in the boycott. The wharfcarters and expressmen of Wellington refused to .handle, the Union Company’s goods. Prices went up rapidly in Wellington, where potatoes were selling at £4 to £4 10s; oats, 2s 3d; pollard. £4 10a ; flour, £l2 10b. No scarcity of food is anticipated. There is only three weeks’ food supply on the West Coast, and consequently the people there are considerably alarmed and are holding meetings.- The West Coast railway em.ployla who refused to do the work on the Union Company’s boats after the lumpers had struck have been given a fortnight’s notics to leave, and it is feared that this will lead to a general strike of railw y hands throughout the colony. Townspeople and the company’s clerks loaded the Westport.- Five shillings per hour was offered to laborers. Freight to Greymouth has been raised to 60 per cent by the Union S.S. Company. There is only'a fortnight’s supply of food, and prices have risen considerably. What is regarded as the best coal for household purposes is being brought into Greymouth from the Nine Mila. On Friday 400 men went to Lyttelton, and amongst them were farmers and farmers’ sons who tendered thhir services to work the boats. There was a considerable amount of excitement when the train reached Lyttelton, and 60 men were at once put.to work, many of whom .wore not laborers. These worked so:awkwardly that a ship s company who were working besides them took a holiday so as t® amuse themselves by watching their antics. Foremost amongst those who captained the free laborers was Mr G. Q. Stead, of Californian wheat fame, and though there was no disturbance the free laborers were chaffed considerably. Onlookers regard the workers as in great danger of accidents owing to their inexperience. Several vessels are laid up in Lyttelton. The Addington railway works will be be closed up two days each week. In Dunedin work was carried on by some well-known athletes, and the Rowing Club have offered shifts of 8 men. The clerks in the various firms have offered their services. The Cooks and Stewards have net struck. They made two attempts to become affiliated to the Maiitime Council but were refused admittance, and consequently are free to act as they like. It is alleged that a'l officers of vessels will strike on reaching Dunedin. Auckland, Sept. 1.

The carters struck to-day as far as concerns the Union Company, and the Australia’s cargo is lying on the wharf uncarted. The master carters will try to get free labor to do the work. Bread is op £d per loaf. Weixin«ton, Aug. 30.

v The famous John Aitkeu Connell addressed a meeting against unionism, and announced be would contest Wellington City in’-the general election. The strikers generally keep away from the wharves, but the place is generally thronged and there is considerable excitement, especially on the arrival of vessels with non-union crews. 4 The. crews of the Grafton and Mawhera. have left, and the officers have given notice; Twenty non-union workmen were landed on an ~ is'and in the harbor, so as to prevent union men speaking to them. The officers of all the company’s vessels 'in'port are out. The company state that they will bo able to get some of their vessels away to-morrow. The officers are bolding a meeting this afternoon, and the seamen and wharf laborers meet to-night, The proceedings in each ease will be private. . • . - - Tbs officers bad an interview with Mr who . said that the company would maintain the position which they had taken up, and. that they were confident of their ability to do so ; but, in the event of the officers deciding to reenter their service, their present conduct in leaving their ships would not militate in any way iagainst their chances of premotion. .The officers said they had no grhdge'against the company.

The Railway Commissioners reply to the railway executive ns follows In reply.to your leLgram requesting Railway Commissioners to" withdraw men from wharf labor, I aw directed to -ala'e that the .Commissioners c>nnot refuse or suspend any portion of the ordinary, work devolving on them in conveyance arid' haud.ling of goods, uor can they allow any of their employees to do so. The Commissioners are determined to pursue a slrict y impartial course as heretofore.”

The Gonunissionera have issued the fpllowing gircularjto all employees, “ The Railway Commissioners regret to inform ■their employees that owiag to the stoppage in the steam shipping business end diminished railway traffic and consequently large loss of revenue resulting therefrom they are compelled tp stop grains running and reduce expenditure to a corresponding degree. The suspension of operations will be arranged so as to distribute the work as fairly as possible so as not to icfl ct individual hardship. Not less than four day’s pay per week is at present to be for. TJie coDtinuspge of working op peftaiu sections also deppnds largely ppon the supply of hard coal. More extensive reductions must follow at an early datp. The Commissioners hope that if poef supplies are forthcoming tradp and traffic may warrant a speedy resumption of the train service.” Sept. 1. The local Typographical Society approved of the action of the Maritime Council, and a weekly levy of 2s 6J P«r member wag a meeting of the popiety on Saturday night £2O was collected in the room. No vessels are to be allowed to leave port iu future without being inspected by the Customs, ■ , , : There are only two of U*e company’s vessels being qhloadetf at precept. JJr McLean states that the Takapuna w |ll be laid up at Wellington imnaediately, ' and the crew transferred to another vessel, possibly the Penguin. There are now ten of the Union Company s steamers here, nine of which are affected by th e slfike. Tbe Botojcino, altbpugh- »ot

affected by the strike, is still out in the stream. Free laborers are still working the Waihi, and the Kanieri, and the latter left for Blenheim at 2 p.m/ The cargo in (ha rest of the Onion boats is not being touched. Things on the wharf are very quiet. - ’ , : Mr Joyce baft giyen notice to ask the Government whether they would suspend all other business to enable a measure to be discussed for preventing shipping companies in New Zealand being associated with other companies outside the. colony in snch a manner as to paralyse the business of the country.

A deputation representing those on strike waited on Sir Harry Atkinson this morning. The Premier referred them to the Hob. Geo. McLean; Lyttelton, Aug, 30. One of the clerks, who was shovelling; coslin the truck, fell down between the wharf and the steamer and had a narrow escaoe of being killed. Christchurch, Aug. 30. The following telegram was sent by Mr, Edwards, secretary to the railway rervants to the Railway Oonmiaeionerfl, Wellington; express regret at the action of the depart-: meet in compelling permanent men to take the place of causual wbarf labour in Lyttelton and elsewhere. Most earnestly request the Commissioners to remain neutral and withdraw all permanent railway men- from wharf laborer’s work in ships and, trucks. Consider the piesent action a sure way of causing a rupture between the Commissioners and the men, If the men are not withdrawn as requested at once the executive will rot be responsible for the consequences.” On the Takapunn arriving at Lyttelton this morning it was found that instead of her regular complement of eight, her deck hands numbered fonr, only one of whom it is said had any previous experience. Shortly after she had been moored ! ihe whole of the craw and firemen, except oae of each, left the vessel. The Wharf Laborers’ Union decided to block the produce shipped by the Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association, G. M. Stead, and Kaye and Carter, becuse they concerned themselves so prominently in the proceedings yesterday. Ttie wharf laborers withdrew the whole of their men from the sheds and vessels at Lyttelton at 1 o’clock, and decided to work nothing but meat cargoes. The officers ©f the Wakatipn, Col»c, Tekapo, Dingadee, and Takapuna left their vessels at 1 p.m. The Union Company state they can at once fill their places. A meeting of farmers reso'ved to supply continuous labor while the trouble lasts. On Saturday night the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council passed resolutions calling on unionists to hold fast to their principles in the present crisis, expressing entire confidence in the Maritime Council to whom it promised moral and financial assistance, and stating that the council consider that the matters in dienute should be submitted to arbitration. e Sept. 1.

Mr Stead addressing the men at Lyttelton said they were misdirected by their leaders. The men called out “ Its a lie, we are not.” Mr Stead offered 3s 6d a day to each married man suffering by the strike, and the offer waa received with laughter. On Saturday notice was given to the operators at the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills that the works will close on the 6'hi through short coal supply. Farmers’ men aie loading the Tekapo, and permanent platelayers are getting 10s a day receiving cargo in the trucks. The Wakatipu is worked by free labor. The Oolac seamen came out yesterday, when free labor was put on board. The Kaikoura is being worked by union men, permission having been wired from the Maritime Council. The cooks and stewards of all the Union , Company’s are coming out at 10.30 a.ra, to-morrow. Chief stewards are not included. It is reported that the wives of several tree laborers offer to cook while the steamers are in port. Gisborne, Sept. 1. Both the Waihora and Wairarapa arrived here this morning. No difficulty wws experienced in working cargoes with non-union men. > : NeIRON, Sept. 1. At a labor meeting on Saturday the Eev. Isitt, President, said it would have been much better had .New Zealand dissociated itself froin Australia, and he expressed the opinion that a ballot should have been taken before a strike was ordered. Napier, Sept. 1. On arrival of the Wairarapa the steam launch, which had been down the coast, .brought off passengers and seme cargo. Oh reaching land the men were called out, bnt the captain and engineer remained. A crowd of ■ volunteers unloaded the launch, and for the, return trip mere ■volunteers loaded her. Qn Saturday night the butchers held a meeting, at which violent and disgraceful language w»a used in connection with Nelson Bros.’ action, one speaker swearing that not a carcase of frozen mutton should leave the works. The Waihoi’t* will he unloaded by volunteer labor on arrival from Auckland. Westport, Aug. 3(L The Anchor f4 ne an d U n i°“ Company have raised the freights to Westport 50 per cent. All the workshop hands and permanent waymen but five, and several others are now out, and the whole of the railway staff is expected to go out. The train service is entirely suspended since last night, only the sfationmaster befog left to work.

Coal is being set down to the Manawatu by Mr Holdaworth, Branch Manager for the CJ.S.S. Company, Mr Jameson, local manager of tfie Westport Qoal f.’omp & nv, Mr Brebner, atationmaster, Mr Pried, Onion Company’s officers, and two railway clerks, and the crew are trimming her. She will get away to Wellington directly. A levy of 10s par man has been struck for the support pf'tbe IprflperS; A Denniston correspondent wires that a meeting of miners endorsed the action of the Maritime Council as to total suspension of work. If the Goal Company is willing the miners will work an 4 st ?PP'y sieapaers pthep than the (Jujon Oorppanyls, condemning tHa action of business men in Westport in loading and discharging steamers was carried. Supplies are short. £I4OO a week is drawn from circulation.

Dunedin, Angust 81. At a meeting on Saturday the cooks and elgyards decide# to strjke.

The Wbarf Laborers’, Expressmen’s, and Storemen’s Unions have instructed their members not to carry goods belonging to firms employing non-union labor. A number of Taieri farmers will send, drays to help to load the steamers. The Rotorua a'rived at 12.30 yesterday,, when the seamen made arrangements toleave the ship.

■ The discharging of the Te Anau’a and; Rotorua’s cargoes <was carried on by the Union Company’s clerks; and a number of, rowing men and footballers. , i Sept. 1. - ;

The cooks and stewards held a stormy meeting bn Saturday, and ‘ after the president left the chair catried by'43 to, 15 a resolution Agreeing not lo work with: free labor. Toe executive intend taking, a ballot as. to whether they shall come 0ut...,, ,

Donald Reid’s, ordinary hands haying refused- lo convey produce to theTe Ad an he sent for his hands from the country. These this morning to take produce to" the wharf, but after loading up the drays they were set on by a crowd, who emptied-the ‘contents of the carts into-the .street. 1 There is moch ; excitement in the neighborhood. The Rotorua is to be laid up. . i I

Mr Millar has issued a placard enjoining unionists to observe order and refrain from .violence, I and to give support to the authorities. The Mayor has intimated that if such obstruction is repeated he will swear in special constables and read the Riot Act. Three persons were slightly injured. Invercargill, Sept. 1.

The Union Company took down twenty free laborers, paying their train fare and guaranteeing a, day’s work, Mr Kelly, Secretary to the Labor Union was also on the train. At the Bluff sixteen of the twenty men went over to the labor side, aand when the remaining four boarded the steamer the seamen struck and the four were withdrawn.

There are about 2000 .sacks on the wharf for shipment, and 50 tons of Nightcaps coal.

At present all work is suspended. Tomorrowthe principal merohan s and clerks go down to work cargo. ' On th 6 arrival of the Manaponri this morning the wharf laborers were willing to work cargoes but not coal, but the Union Company refused to engage on these terms. The steamer is now working cargo with her own crew, railway men receiving it on the trucks. The Manapouri’s , seamen leave a 1 Dunedin, TIMAIUJ. A private meeting of employers of labor was held in Messrs Woollonmba and Olnlee’s . office on Saturday morning, at which the following firms were represented S.O. Eefrigeratiog Company, Miles, Archer and Co., N.M. and A. Company. 0.F.C.A., Belford and Atlas Milling Companies, and Gracie, Maclean and Company, and several gentlemen were present connected with the mercantile and agricultural interests of South Canterbury. The following telegram to Mr Ciulee, secretary to the Eefrigerating Company, was road:—“Hastings, August 29th,— Will your company join us in declining to employ union labor. Unions becoming so oppressive in their actions wo think the present an opportune time to knock down the whole system. Shall never have a better chance. General feeling through Hawke’s Bay to act in this direction. We are making similar suggestions to all freezing companies. Please reply promptly. Kelson Bros. (Limited)." The following resolutions were carried unanimously :

“ That in coosaquenca of a letter received from the Wharf Laborers’ Union it is expedient that employers of labor lake steps to protect themselves against inconvenience by the withdrawal of their hands,”

“ That in reply to the circular received from the wharf laborers, the following resolution be sent—“ That this meeting pledges itself to make no distinction between union and free labor, and that any intimidation on the part of the Laborers' Union will mean our dispensing with union men.’” “That this meeting consider the present strike ill-advised and unnecessary, and heartily sympathise with the Union Steamship Company in their presentstruggle with the tyranny of the Maritime Council." STBIKB IN TIJtAEIT. Owing to the resolutions passed at the meeting of employers in Timarn the unions met and passed the following resolutions : “That this meeting condemns the resolutions passed by the employers of Timaru, as we have not made any demands upon them, nor asked for anything except acknowledgment of our rules“ That this meeting pledges itself to stand shoulder to shoulders together, and support the Maritime Council in any action they deem fit to take.”

The secretary of the Wharf Laborers Union waited qa the various employers and asked thiei# to ackpowledge their rules, but they refused to do So, and consequently all unionists struck at l q’olqok yesterday. The barque Ashmore was taking cargo on' board, and when the men struck four of the railway platelayers were sent down to load her with the assistance of the crew, Mr Edwards, chief clerk in the goods department, also went to work. The men are very: irritated, and say that they asked for nothing. They merely asked the employers to acknowledge the union rules, and that this was tha only difficulty. Somehow reached the men that a large number of “ free laborers ” from Temuka were on board the express train, and this was given an air of reality to by the fact that one of : the railway carriages was full of the crew of the Wairarapa, who were on their way to Dunedin. Vyben the drew iptq Ticparp men trooped on to the platform, no doubt with the view of talking them into taking their sides, and were greatly relieved on finding that there was no “ free labor ” on board. The Wairarappa men were cheered lustily.

There are prospects of an irpniediate settlement of the dififoulty. Cablegrams have been received from Australia to tha effect that the merchants there are asking for a settlement, and if so the whole thing will be settled in a few days.

TEMUKA. Messrs Aspinall and Co. have decided to dose their mill on Saturday next. They have ample water power, and haye consequently not been affected by the coal difficulty. The difficulty of arranging freights, however, has decided them' jn their action, and they $o not desire to ,‘ Qgumqlate stocks,

PARLIAMENT AND THE STRIKES.: Tho strikes were discussed in Parliament oa Friday. An account of the discussion will be found on our fourth; page. . V,... I

UNIONISM AT GERALDINE. 1 A public meeting was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Friday evening last for the purpose of forming a branch of the Amalgamated! Shearers’ and Laborers’ Unioni Mr W. Lundori, president of the Waimatel branch' of the union, attended to explain the objects of the union, and! delegates from ' Temuka were also] present. Mr G. Taylor occupied the chair, and read the advertisement;

calling the meeting. 1 | Mr Lund.pn said he had great; pleasure in 1 coming before them and | asking them to form a branch of the! Shearers’ and Laborers’. Union. He, had undertaken bis present task atj the request of; the members of ■ the Waimate branch,' and would carry out! his duties to the best of his ability. He gave a brief history ®f the Shearers’; Union. He also laid before the; meeting the - object of ’ the union,! which was not, he said, to raise the: price of shearing, blit to keep the price from being lowered. He assured them that he would do everything in his power to prevent extreme measures being taken (applause) but; pointed out that capitalists all over; the world combined in their own interests and it was high time there was a combination among laborers. He concluded by moving—“ That a branch of the Amalgamated Laborers', and Shearers’ Union be formed in Geraldine.” ’ " , ‘ | The motion was second by Mr George O’Neil, and, being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Mr Vincent, President of the Lumpers’ Union, Oamaru, gkve ! ! a; shore risumt of theprogress of unionism; in New Zealand and the manner in which the present Maritime Council had come into existence.. He was listened to with marked attention, as was MrLundon. f ; The election of officers resulted in Mr A. Fisher being appointed secretary arid Mr Wakely treasurer. Thirty persons then came forward and were enrolled as members of the union. ' A committee of twelve, was then elected. Mr E. Hammand was elected chairman of committee and Mr GeoEllis vice-chairman.

Mr Hammond said that so long as he occupied his present position he would do his beat to prevent things from going to extremes. He was both an employer of labor and an employ 6, and he was decidedly opposed to laborers putting a bigger price on things than the employers could pay; (Applause.) It was decided that the committee should meet again on fcSeptember^th. A vote of thanks to the chairman terlninated the meeting.