LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2120, 4 November 1890, Page 2

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, Oct. 30. A hearty welcome was extended to Mr J. D. Fitzgerald, the labor delegate from New Sooth Wales, ty Messrs Barns and Tom McCarthy of the Dockers' Uuion, an J S. J. Divis, a delegate from Be'fast, Mr Pi zgeraldaddresses the Tr*des Coaucii on Tuesday when he will give an account of the •tifficuUy in Australia. He declares that the masters are to blame for the strike, and that he has been ■ advised that the statements that (he strike has collapsed are baseless.

Fifty unions hare joined tbe Board of Conciliation which was formed recently under the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Barns declares that, owing to the federation of employers, the workmen are not strong enough to sustain a strike unless there is some unusual chance of their proving yictorious.

The coal porters engageJ in twelve of the vessels unloading at Plymouth, owiog to non-unionists having been taken on to assist in the work have struck.

The Labor Federation has been formed With Tom Mann as president. The ralea have bpen adopted, and it U expeeted tha federation wNt comprise upw*rds of 160 unions.

The Executive of the Dockerb' Union express themselves satisfied wiih tbe terms offered by the Shipping Companies, and hive forbidden iha strike which threatened to take place on Monday. It is believed that a competitive system of labor will generally be adopted by the dockers.

Nov. 1, The shipowners are afraid that if the proposition to lay up all the vessels in the United Kingdom were carried into effect foreign vessels would be utilised, and the trade of Great Britain thereby diverted into other channels. Mr Fitzgerald nnfarled the Bailors' banner at Poplar to-lay, an J in the coarse of his epeech said that the primary object of his vie.it to England was to esplam the exact position of affairs in Australia, and not on » begging expedition. This statement was received with loud cheering. A circular jast issued by the unionists appe»ls to the trades for the advance of money to assist the Australian strikers. It guarantees that any money advanced will be repaid. The circular goes on to say that it is advisable to be generous in view of the likelihood of a multitude of brethren being compelled to take shelter in Australia.

A manifesto issued by the shipowners refers to the collapse of the Australian strike, and states that a similar defeat awaits aggressive unionism in England.

Mr J, D. Filzgerald, the Sydney labor delegate, in an interview with a representative of the Pall Mall Gaiette, said that the strike in Australia was owing to the masters attempting to smash up unionism. That was the kernel of the matter, and it w»b not a question of the employment if tree labor, ihe employe* were, he said, determined to protect the right of ihe men to form unions, and tie strong'y denounced the telegram sent to England from Australia by Mr ti. Champion, The labor leaders are jubilant at the defeat of Mr billies' Uovernmeut in Victori*.

Sydney, Oct. 31, I be Marine Officers' Association hae withdrawn from the Labor Dnfenoa Committee, stating that there is nothing to gain by standing oo', and they consider llxmselveg. fairly bsten. They have wrilttn to the S eimsbip Owners asking for an int«rvi<-w, .he steamship owners have dec ined the r< quest for a conference, bui have in innird to individual members that they will be pleased to meet their late officers at any lima when not associated with any other labor bodieß,

At the annual meeting of the Employers' Union the (.resident, iu his address, said that employers geueraliy, having formed themselves into a union were not desirous of seeing the end of unionism among trades, but they eonsider it is the duty of the lab.ir leaders to take a ballot of those before proceeding to extreme measures. Several attacks on free laborers have been reported daring the past two days, A body of threa hundred men rushed a steamer frem which was lying at the wharf, and maltreated the aon. unionists who were working or board her. One man was thrown bodily into ihb water, but his rescue wms tfifVcted, Eventually the police succedod in quelling the disturbance. One of the sergeants <;f police w«s wounded by a piece of road metal which was hurled at ljim, and t> e had to be conveyed to the hospital.

Newcastle;, Oct. 31, Io reply to the request of the miners o bi taken b«ok, the mine owners have intimated to the men that they will meet ihem in a conference at an early date.

Melbourne, Nov, 1. The Trades Council have received a formal letter announcing the withdraw*l of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association, The letter stales I hat the Association have no longer any desire to remain affiliated with the Trades Council, as they recognise that they are only a s'umbliug block to a peaceful settlement of the present labor difficulty.

Brisbane, Noy. I. A par v of free laborers \>orkipg hers struck, owing to the reduction of their pay for overtime from 8s to Is 6J prr t>ur, but they resumed on condition ',ha( 2s be paid till the end of the week,

NEW ZEALAND. Atjcklvisd. Nov. 2 The delegates from the labor organisations have issued a manifesto in view of the approaching elections. In this they proclaim that class legislation and Class supremacy is undermining the foundations of public liberty and impoverishing the producing classes ; and that this wealthy colony is ruled in the interests of a few ; and therefore they appeal to all to seek the emancipation of labor. They lay down the following platform :—The abolition of the property tax and the imposition of a 1 per cent, tax on the in improved value of land; »he settlement <f Crown lands ; eight hours to be made n legal day s work, and Government and municipal contracts to be given only to firms pledged to piy a stated minimum rate of wagßß ; drastric reform of the State Railway Tepartment, and the cradual development cf the Government Savis ga Bank iato a state bank of issue. The delegates will now select the labor candidal-s, whose names will be submitted to Sir George Grey for approval. Welli>gion, Nov. 1. The wharf laborers at Wellington, have decided to resume work on Monday. The Harbor Bo*rd and Shaw, Seville and Albion Companies have assured the free laborers that they will give the preference to them if they are capable of doing the work required. , . The free laborers on the whart mtenp to'form a benefit association. ' Lyttblton Nov. 3.

The wbarf labo-ers off=>rerf themselves for work to-daj and some few were empbyei. The rest, to find employment, have to pass throngh the labor burean, and take their chance with the free laborers. WfiSTPOBT Nf>v. 1. " The New Zealand Co-ooarativ" Mmtng Association," a party of Dennistou miners Baid to have some outside connection, have made a proposal to purchase the New Cardiff Comanv's properly at Mokihinm, or to wrrk it on the profit sharing system. The offer will be considered by the company. f The Denniston unionists miners are firm in their determination to fight it to the bitter end. They admit th*re is no chance of work this year, feut th<?y conaider things are shaping in their favor. A £IOO strike donation h»s been received from the Amalgamated Miners Association of Australasia. Gkbtmovih, Oct. 31. The ArgUß coirespondant telegraphs from Brnnnerton:-"At a meMiag of miners held this evening it was decided that men fortunate eDough to get work should contribute one-fcurtb of th»ir pay to support the unemployed. About sixty bewers and twenty truckers will be started on Monday. A hundred special constables will be sworn in to moirow. All requirements for the comfoit of free laborers are about completed." Nov. 3. About sixty old hands started work at the Brunner mines. A large number who Bought work were informed r hat their services were not required. Dtjnedin, Oct. 31. I Nothing is koown by the labor party here as to the alleged order to c ose the strike, but it is felt that the termination is how only a matter of a few days. The gate returns show that 10,083 persons attended the labor day sports, the takings being c'ose on £390. !S T or. 1. At a meeting of the Seamen's Union Mr Miller delivered an address afer it was decided to continue the Btr ke nntil e settlement is come to in Australia. ' The wharf laborers have decided to resume work in a body.