LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2168, 26 February 1891, Page 1

LABOR QUESTIONS.

I* '"' London", February 22. The Federated Onions intend to block the Orient Company's steamers on Modday owing to the Company insisting on the obnoxious federation agreement. The P. and O. Company undertake to repudiate federation, and other secessions are expected. The Shipping Federation will engage 1000 additional hands to-day, and provide accomodation for them. Neither side so far appears prepared to agree to a compromisp. The number of pnlice on duty at the docks h»s been increased. The Unions intend Io indict the Shipping Federation as an illegal conspiracy (sic), because it is registered under the Joint Stock Act instead of under the Trades Union Act. A manifesto issued by the Federated Unions charges the Committee of the Shipping Federation with misrepresentation and suppression of facts, by which means tbey procured the issue of the manifesto of the 13th. Mr Devitt, the Chairman of the Shipping Federation, denies tub allegation. February 23. The lightermen have resumed taking the cargo boats from the free labourers aud the unionists. The police force at the docks has been largely increased. J'he shipping federation deny that they are making any conditions with the uuions. They are sending a train full of free labourers to Cardiff. The Orient Compnny have secured an abundant supply of labour except stevedores and firemen. Some difficulty is experienced in consequence of the dearth of the latter in manning tho Austral. The crisis does not *ffect the P. and O. Company. The unionists in their manifesto accuse the shipping federation of an attempt to create a crisis. February 24. The Trade Union Council for the port of London has declared a general strike of all shipping and riverside trades on Wednesday. Brisbane, February 21. The Government have issaed a proclamation calling upon the unionists to Jay down their arms. All the hotels in the disturbed district have b;en closed. The shearers union has decided to await the return of their delegates to the conference at Adelaide before taking any further action. Adelaide, Feb. 24. The shearers' conference has voted £IOOO to the shearers in Queensland. Auckland, Febrnary 23. The conference between representatives of the employers and the labor bodies for the formation of a Board of Conciliation have drafted rules for the Board. These are to be submitted to the various bodies interested for their consideration. Wellington, Feb. 24, It is stated that some rather BUltry correspondence is going on between the Federated Trades Council an) Seamen's Union in reference to tha difficulty between the Union Steamship Company and the Trades Council as to the alleged boycotting of unionists. The secretary of the Wellington branch of the Seamen's Union wrote to the council satirically thanking it for the ac'ion already taken in the correspondence with the Union Company, bat asked that no further steps be an 1 expressing dissatisfaction v>i b the manner in which publicity has baen given to seamen's affairs through the aotion of the council. To this letter the conceit have decided to reply pointing ont tha' whatever action had been takfn was brought about at the instigation of of tha Seamen's Union, whose evidence was duly signed by themse'ves before its substance was forwarded on to she Union Company. It is probable that the council will take steps to represent its side of the case to the central body of the Sram n n's Union as distinguished from the local branch.