LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2101, 20 September 1890, Page 3

LABOR DISPUTES.

Loitdon, Sept. 16.

Messrs Bart and Pickard are arrang. ing for a congress in Belgium to secure the adoption and legislation of the eight hours system. It is proposed that all collieries in Great Britain, Prance, Belgium, Germany, and Austria shall be laid idle if necessary ia order to gain this end. The Dockers’ Unions bare received a letter from the leaders of the Wool Shearers’ Unions ic Australia, bat decline at present to make known its contents or anything as to what action is likely to be taken in blocking ships. They say, however, that they will adopt a policy of extreme caution in view of the short amount of funds, and the recently established Shipowners’ Federation, and declare that there will be time enodgb to decide on action when ships loaded with wool begin to arrive. Sept. 17.

Fifteen of the 'leaders of the Southampton rioters have been committed for trial.

The subscription lists in aid of the dockers show a total of £BSO collected, Mr Tom Mann now expresses himself as more bopefnl of the success of the Australian strike.

Sept. 18

The Scotch ironmasters threaten to close eighty of their furnaces if the workmen insist on their demands for increase in wages.

Melrourne, Sept. 17

The intercolonial shipping trade has greatly improved and the wharves are no* displaying much activity. Negotiations are pending between the Labor Council and employers for a conference. There is great excitement in trade circles at the prospect of a general strike.

Sydney, Sept. 17

The shipowners say that as they were running at a loss before the strike no force of public opinion would induce them to resume under the old conditions. Rather than be coerced they bij they w j|l Jay op their boats altogether. Sept. 18.

The mayor has drafted a schema for the set'.lenient- of the present labor dispute bn the basis of arbitration. He proposes that the question be referred lo a board of arbitration, consisting of tbe mayors of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, and other gentlemen possessing the confidence of both sides ; flis Honor Sir P. M. Darley, Q. 0., Chief Justice of New South Wales, to be chairman.

Several exciting scenes have occurred jn the House of Assembly, On the motion for adj-urnment a number of members denounced the Government for the action that had been taken with regard to the labor struggle. Sir William U. Vb illiPj mejpbef for £oqrke ? excitedly remarked that the Minister for Public Works ought to be shot down like a deg. Several other members got at loggerheads, and one case almost ended in a persons! encounter on the floor of the chamber.

Brisbane, Sept, ] 7

The Pastoralists and Employers’ Association lias voted tbs sum of £IOOO to the Federated Employers’ Association.

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland, Sept. 17

The Anti-Poverty Society has suggested the nationalisation of the land as'ths best means of preventing labor troubles. The supply of non-union labor in Auck ; land is in excess of the demand. September 18. :

The Rosemond has arrived from Brisbane. Her crew, who were union men, came out this morning.

Wanganui, Sept. 17.

Matters connected? with the labor diflL cutty are all quiet now. A meeting ef railway servants was held, but nothing decided on.

Wellington. Sept. 17.

The Railway Executive telegraphed yesterday to the commissioners asking if the latter would receive a deputation from the executive to confer about the present unsatisfactory state of suspense, and if possible arrange for the reinstatement of

the men called out. The commissioners reply to-day that if they agree to reinstate the men there would be no guarantee that they might not be called out again when it suited the executive. Ihey cannot consent to such a mischievous precedent, and cannot reinstate the men. The reply winds up;—“After the attempt which you have made to paralyse the public service and introduce into it illegal and disorderly practices the commissioners decline to meet you, or further discuss this matter with you.” At a meeting of wharf laborers it was decided that the present struggle should be maintained.

The vacancies on the permanent wharf staff have been filled.

The Railway Commissioners have issued a circular to all in which the decision not to reinstate men is emphasised.

Strike matters generally are quiet, and there has been no demonstration on the wharves. The squads of "specials’' who have been on duty the last two nights, have been relieved of duty until further notice. Two fresh detachments are ordered to parade to-morrow night. Messrs D. P. Fisher, Graham, and Kitto, of the Federated Trades and Labor Council, had an interview with Sir H. Atkinson, when the labor difficulty was discussed. It is understood that no ar rangement was come to

September 18. The harbor board have filled tip all vacant places with non-unionists. Sir James Hector and Messrs R. W. Moody (Auckland) and W, Brown (Dun* edin) are appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into the grievances of the Grey Valley Company's employes.

Henry Braum, a unionist, was sentenced to-day to four days’ imprisonment for assaulting a free laborer.

Not the slightest demonstration was made against the free laborers when they left the wharf.

Grbtmouth, Sept. 17,

The Brunner arrived to-day, and is discharging from her fore hatch only, having only four non*unionists from shore, sixteen others having joined the union. Arrangements were made for a squad of Chinamen to discharge the cargo, but the interpreter and other Chinese dissuaded them, and they declined to go to work. All efforts to entice the non-unionists on board the Brunner to leave were unavailing.

C*RISfcCHUBCH, Sept. 17,

It was stated at the Harbor Board’s meeting that there was only sufficient coal to supply the board’s requirements in port until Friday next. It was decided to inform the contractors (the Grey Valley Coal Company) that penalties would be enforced if they failed in their contract. September 18.

Two hundred non-unionist laborers are working at Lyttelton, and the supply exceeds the demand. The port is very quiet. A mass meeting of men on strike in Lyttelton was held this afternoon, and was attended by about 500. A committee was appointed to take steps to return a labor candidate to Parliament.

Oamarv, Sept. 18.

Mr J. A. Miller, of the Maritime Council, visited Oamaru to-day, and addressed a mass meeting on the cricket ground. There was a large attendance, but the meeting was not of an enthusiastic character. Mr Miller gave a history of the events which led to the strike, and said that it was brought about through a determination on the part of the Shipowners’ association to employ non-union labor. Referring to the proposed National Steamship Company he s4d that within eight weeks the vessels of the company would ba running the trade. A resolution was passed at the meeting in favor of making a collection in aid of the strike fund.

A very enthusiastic meeting was held in the Volunteer Hall in the evening, when Mr Miller again addressed a large attendance. He said that the railway men would not be called out at the present time, and urged unionists to bring forward candidates of their own class for Parliament. He felt sure that the unionists could put in two-thirds of the members if they gave block votes.

Dunedin, Sept. 17

The Monowai leaves here late to-morrow afternoon. Her entire crew is non-union men, with the exception of the cooks and stewards, who decide at one o’clock what action they will take. Captain Carey expresses himself perfectly satisfied with his crew, and says that on leaving Williamstown there was a surplus of twenty hands over the number required to work the ship. The cooks (excepting the baker) and butcher went out op the Monowai to-day. Some of the stewards went out, but a number remain with the vessel.

September 18.

The Naseby School Committee, as a protest against the boycott, have decided to use Whitcombe and Tombs publications.

Work at other vessels was carried on as usual, and no inconvenience ia now apparent from the strike, McLeod, and Duthie and Company’s carters started to take away the goods today without a strike following.

The Trades and Labor Council to-night appointed a committee of five to act in eonjunction with one from the Maritime Council to choose labor candidates for nomination at the genera election.j