LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2122, 8 November 1890, Page 3

LABOR DISPUTES.

London - , Nov. 5. At a large meeting of unionists at Mile End, 7000 were present and Mr Burns presided. Mr J, D. Fitzgerald, the Sydney delegate, repudiated the statement of Mr H. H. Champion, the English labor advocate, that the strike was due to employers preventing the marine officers from forming a union, and asserted that the struggle would have been attended with success had not the employers prevented the maritime bodies from receiving help from the Newcastle miners and the shearers and Broken Hill miners. The capitalists’ Press had, he said, misrepresented the strikers in the cablegrams which had been published from the colonies, and the next elections in the colonies would be fought on the labor ticket. He asserted that Mr Champion had done untold harm in Australia and had changed the issue from the first by mooting the employment of free labor. Ho asked the leaders of the English unions to repudiate Mr Champion’s action. Mr Mann, speaking on behalf of the leaders, believed that Mr Champion’s conduct in Australia had been even more indiscreet than while he was in England, and denied that he was in communication with the Dockers Union, Resolutions of sympathy and that support he continued were carried. , Eight hundred dockers at the Victoria Docks have struck work owing to the half hour for dinner being disallowed. Mr Fitzgerald’s references to Mr Champion at the meeting of unionists at Mile End were received with loud groans and cries of “ Shoot him! “ He dare not return.” The eight hundred men who struck at the Victoria Docks owing to the half hour for dinner being disallowed, have resumed work at the instance of Mr Tom Mann, who pointed out to them that it was useless to go out on strike because of the loss ©f 3d per day. He also informed them that a system of piece-work would be introduced at the docks as soon as the rate of wages had been agreed upon. The dock owners have finally abolished sweating at the docks. Nov. 6.

The Shipping Trade Federation has a membership of 600,000. It is proposed t© make a weekly levy of to provide a fighting fund. Sydney, Nov. 5.

A cenference between the Newcastle mine owners and miners is proceeding. It is understood that the owners have stipulated to cut coal for all vessels, whether union or non-union, and that the miners have taken time to consider the decision. Nov. 6. The labor defence committee have declared the strike over. The wharf laborers held a meeting to-day, and it was eventually decided on a ballot to return to work on the old terms* The mine manager at Newcastle has arranged satisfactory terms with the engine men, and the declaration that the strike is over was received with great rejoicing. There is a great deal of distress prevailing among the families of the strikers. Replying to a question in the House of Assembly last night the Government stated that they intended to afford relief only in cases ot actual starvation. Work at the Newcastle mines is almost certain to be resumed on Monday. The miners have passed a resolu* tibn that the strike has shown the folly ©f imposing a high entrance fee on those joining a union, and they recommend that the fee be abolished. Nov. 6. Th» strike is virtually over, and ' members of various trades are arranging to return to work.

NEW ZEALAND. Wellington, Nov. 5. The coil supply for household purposes ia still short and prices rule high. Kitchen and Sons' soap works have stopped operations for the present owing to the want of coa'. The Government have definitely refused the labor party the block of land asked lot in the Forty Mile Bush, Nov. 6. Owing to the action of the Typographical Society in regard to the strike levy, Mr D. P. Fisher, the secretary, has resigned. An unprovoked assault was made on a ' number of free laborers l >le last night as the latter were returning from a meeting which they had been holding for the purpose of forming an association. It is believed that those participating in the assault were principally firemen and greasers. One man named John McDermott has been arrested, and it is expected that others will shortly be taken into custody. Nov. 7, At (he Magistrate’s court this morning John McDermott, one of the strikers, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on each of the three charges of assaulting free laborers, the sentences to be cumulative. The magistrate in delivering sentence said it was part of an organised attack and it was onfoitonate that McDermott was tho only one identified. He said he was determined to deal with cases of this kind in a manner that would tend to stamp them out. Westport, Nov. 6. Forty three laborers for Denniston coal mine arrived to-day from Hokitika by the Charles Edward, Work at Dennistou is proceeding well. Yesterday 60Q tons of coal were seat to port,