LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2105, 30 September 1890, Page 2

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, Sept. 25.

The Amalgamated Society of Engineers are levying a contribution of 6d per member, which is expected to yield £I4OO for the Australian strikers. The dockers will remit £750 to Sydney, and the United Labor Council £4OO, One thousand laborers have struck at the Victoria Docks claiming ixtra pay for handling special cargo. A laborer was sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment for thrashing dockers who refused to pay the 3d levy to assist the Australians. Sept. 26. The Union Steamship Company of England have warned the m°h oat on strike at Southampton that unless they abandon their dictatorial altitude permanent crows composed of non-unionists will be engaged immediately.

Sept. 27. The secretary of the Sailors’ and Firemens’Union has issued a circular warning the branches to be extremely cautions in any action they may take, as the Shipowners’ Unions are apparently trying to promite a conflict with a view of completely crashing the unions. The circular states that the largest labor battle ever known will fake place within three months, and the various secretaries are asked to take immediate steps so as to be prepared to meet it. It also admits the financial weakness of the Dockers’ Union owing to the recent strikes.

Vienna, Sept, 2i. An extensive strike of colliers has taken place at Qstran, in Moravia. Melbourne, Sept. 26.

The conference of owners and miners in connection with the Broken Hill silver industry have arrived at a satisfactory settlement of the difficulty. Courts of Arbitration are to be established to control disputes and work is to be resumed in the mines as rapidly as, circumstances will admit.

Sept, 27. . The enquiries which have been made as to whether any shearers are available from New Zealand have elicited the reply that any number of free laborers are offering.

Sept, 29.

Colonel Price explains that his order to the men to fire low if necessity arose, was merely meant that they were to endeavor to disable and not to kill. The Commandant censored him. Sydney, Sept. 26.

The proprietors of one of the largest stations in the colony have laid informations against forty-five of their hands for leaving before their agfe-ment was completed. The employers decline to agree to a conference without the consent of the other Employers’ Unions in Australasia, Sept; 27.

The miners at Broken Hill silver mines have taken a ballot as to Whether they should agree lo the eUase in the terms of the settlement recently drawn up whicht provides for sterling the pumps to keep the mines in order during the continuance of the strike. The ballot was against this being done, and owing to this decision Hie settlement of the difficulty is locally regarded as being as far off as ever.

Sept, 29

At a meeting of those on al l ike and their sympathisers to-day the action of the employers was condemned in not accepting the offer of the labor party to refer the whole matter to a conference. Some dismay has been occasioned, among the shearers who are free selectors by the discovery that their holdings are liable to be distrained upon. It is anticipated the; pastoraliats will sue the shearers for damages, on the gronnd of their refusal to work being a breach of agreement.

Brisbane, Sept. 28. The result of telegraphic negotiations between the Employers’ Union of tbs different colonies is that they have agreed to bold a pan-Australian conference with the Labor Unions on the basis of freedom of contract, retention of free labor, and the non-affiliation of the Maritime Officers’ Association with the labor party.

NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, Sept. 20. The Auckland Employers’ Association have sent the fallowing telegram to tho Government:— “Inasmuch as the Auckland employers are bound to protect the free labor which has come to their assistance in the present difficulty they see no good in a conference until the unions acquiesce in the right of employers to take on unionists and free laborers indiscriminate! v.”

Wellington, Sept. 26. It is estimated that 500 seamen are on strike in Wellington. At a meeting of wharf laborers 32 new members were elected, and a resolution was carried to remain firm.

Sept, 27. At a meeting of delegates from the various labor bodies, Messrs F, fl, Fraser,

W. Maclean, and T. K. Macdonold were selected as the labor candidates for the citj. It was from this conference that the local branch of the Seamen’s Union withdrew, not from the labor conference called by the Government. About £450 was distributed in strike P The cooks and stewards on strike here have carried a resolution authorising their executive to use the invested fund, amounting to about £ISOO. The publicans have subscribed to the strike fund

Sept. 28

The labor party held a demonstration yesterday afternoon. The procession started from the southern reclaimed and about"2,3o p.m.. rind marched along Custom Bouse Quay (towards Thorndon) whsre the shipping offices are situated A good deal of hooting and groaning was indulged in, which was replied to by several vessels at the wharf blowing their whYsUes. As each of the newspaper offices was passed there was further hooting, as also in front of some of the hotels whose licensees had not subscribed to the strike fund. The procession after reaching Tivian street «tnrnjd to the starling point, when an effigy of tree labor’' was burnt. There was no disturbance of any kind, and the proceedings all through were of an orderly eharacter. In the evening the labor gave a concerto-aid- of the strike fund, which was fairly well attended

September 29. Tbe Railway Commissioners have not considered the question of being repre-sented-W the Conference, though U was supposed in some quarters they intended to be represented. , f It is Understood that some at least of the unionists’ delegates are prepared to discuss the question of employment of unionists and free labor side by side. During the present week the Railway Commissioners will resume the reguNr trains on most of the southern hues, traffic having gradually improved till it is but lUtle below the volume before the strike. Business on the Wellington Rues increasing sufficiently to justify an eaily resump‘ion of the full service. Shsw, Saville and Co. and the New Zealand Shipping Company refuse to be represented at the labor conference. The Wellington Employers Association also decline! In a letter to the Premisr they say they cannot agree to the discussion, by any Conference, of their right to employ free labor, but as soon as the labor party announce their intention to abandon boycotting and other practices they may take nartin the conference. P An information has been laid against two men for assaulting a free laborer on Saturday.

Westpokt, Sept. 26

The Mawhera loaded coal to-day without trouble. An ample supply of free labor was available.

Lyttelton, Sapt. 28. There was a very large gathering of unionists, and others on the wharf last night to see the labor delegates to the conference at Wellington off. A band was in attendance and played several selections of music before the steamer left. Fully 1500 people were on the whart, although the hour was 10 p.m- threat enthusiasm was shown and the various delegates were cheered time after time. Matters connected with the strike are quiet. On Saturday the number e£ men feady to work on the wharves exceeded the demand, and many had to stand idle. CheistchTOCE, Sept. 26. Two officers of tbe Te Anau, who went out at »hr beginning of the strike, -gsfoe back to work. It is stated that several others are applying to be taken back

Sept. 27

The following telegram has been sent to the Premier by the Executive, of the Canterbury Employers Association . “Instructed by the Executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Association I have the honor to inform you that while fully recognising the desirability of ending the present disorganisation of. the trade and commerce of Canterbury, the executive are of opinion that no good can result from the proposed conference until the unions' admit that fellow-colonists who are free from unionism have equal tights with unionists to earn a living. bept. 23. About 430 this afternoon three nonunion laborers walking in the street were hooted and pelted with tussocks by a crowd of larrikins. They took refuge in the Palace Hotel. A crowd of several hundreds gathered • outside for a few minutes till the police came up and disP6 The difficulty between the Grocers’ Association and Messrs Edwards, Bennett, and Co. is settled, and the latter will not open retail. shops. , The of the settlement have not been published. Oamaef, Sept. 28.

U a meeting of the Oamaru Farmers and Employers’ Club held onSatoday.t was decided; not to send a delegate to the conference af Wellington unless the unions admitted the right of free labor to be ea.pl.yßd »»U-

Several additional officers baye joined the Union Company. ■ Waitahuna has transmitted £2O to the Btrike fund

Binae iuuu. Sept , 2 8. The Tarawera left for Melbourne on Saturday afternoon after taking in a large amount of cargo. There was no demonstration of any kind. Every effort was made to induce her officers to come out but they stuck to the ship, as did moat of the cooks and stewards. The Ohau was taken out of the graving dock and brought to Dunedin. She leaves to The h ßean»if»l Star, after being laid up since the commencement of the strike, is to resume her running between Dunedin, Lyttelton, and way ports to morrow. A large number of strikers have left town to look far work in the country. .The following telegram has been sent to the Premier by the Employers Associa- * “The Employeras Association, Sldin regret that they do not see Seir way to send delegates to Wellington «o Tong as the boycott remains in force fL the nrinciple of working wUh free , . rin denied by the unionists. When these evils are removed and the demands of the unions formulated, the association ° ill consider the propriety of -ending dele gates to attend the conference at Wellington. ]IiTEKCAEG) x, L) Sept. 29. ' The Gore Farmers Club has passed a resolution strong'y endorsing t h J act,on the Railway Cmtnwioners m the labor crisis.