LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2492, 20 April 1893, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, April 17. The jury who tried Mr Ben Tillefct for inciting t:.> riot at Bristol found that he used wenls calculated to lead to disorder, but that he had no intention of pro voicing a breach of tho peace. The ;judgo decided that this amounted to a verdict of not guilty, and directed Tillett to be acquitted. The London dockers have deferred striking in support of their Hull comrades pending a conference of the Trades Unioii3 throughout the country, which will be hold to-night. Tho owners of the shipping state that they are thoroughly prepared. The majority of the press discourage tho strikers on tho ground tl>at their action is untimely. The shipownora assert that they are besieged by nonunionists. Mr J. Wilson, M.P., asserts that it will bo impossible to replace tho unionists if a strike occurs.

Mr Burns informs the leaders of the men that he would assist them to fight. Mr Tiilett told them that the forces of the capitalists have improved since 1889, and require more science to defeat them.

The strike is least harmful to shipowners at the present time, owing to dulness of trade. The distress in the East End is above the average. The Unions are short of funds, and the leaders generally, with the exception of a few of the more noisy, fear that they will be unable to organise simultaneous action.

The' London ship-owners have resolved to maintain their right to employ free labourers, and are preparing to furnish provisions to three thousand men. The stevedores disapprove of a general strike, and threaten that they can easily carry on, in consequence of the slackness of trade, with one-fourth of the present number of men. The Bristol Channel trade is blocked. The London seamen and firemen cease work to-morrow. The leaders of the strike predict that 100,000 men will knock off to-morrow.

Mr Wilson, the ship-owner, Mr Mundella, President of the Board of Trade, Mr Burns, and Mr Wilson, of the Seamen's Union, have agreed to an armistice, pending the submission of terms of settlement to the Shipping Federation and the Hull strikers. Meanwhile work will proceed in Loudon. It is understood that the strikers will accept the terms. It reported that the compromise suggested for a settlement of the strike includes a stipulation that Unionists shall wo.-k in harmony with non-Unionists, and that the control of the latter shall be transferred to the Board of Trade. Mr Burns conveyed the terms of the compromise to a hundred delegates from the dockers last evening. The delegates enquired whether they meant peace or war. Mr Ben Tillet says that the men are determined, and that a mighty democratic wave is beating against the citadel of greed. Mr Burns, in the House of Commons, said that if early in the shipping dispute he had been permitted to meet the parties interested, he could have settled the question in five minutes. Mr Wilson, the member for Hull, accused the shipowners of being allied with crimps. Mr Mundella said he would iuquire into the truth of their allegation. Mr Burns, who moved the adjournment of the debate, complained of naval and military forces being sent to Hull. The Speaker ruled that the House was unable to discuss the matter. Brussels, April 17. There is increased ferment throughout Belgium, and desperate fighting has taken place at Moiis and Antwerp. A number of the Civic Guard have been wounded. Several strikers have been killed and many wounded. The Belgian strikers now number 50,000. Many have been killed in conflicts with the police and military. Work is at a standstill in Charleroi. The Premier has agreed to accept plural voting as the only means of appeasing the agitators. April 18. Violent conflicts have taken place between the Civic Guards and the rioters at Mons. The troops charged the mob, many of whom were wounded. The strikers retaliated with bricks, and the Guards then fired, killing five and wound-

ing many more. A large number were arrested, and the crowd fled, taking the dead with them. Fourteen of the Guards were wounded, some mortally.

The Antwerp strikers are in sympathy with the agitation respecting the suffrage. They hid behind piles oi wool in the docks, and stoned the gendarmes, who fired upon them. The Civic Guards were also called out in this city. The Belgain Government advocate manhood suffrage combined with plural voting. If the proposal be rejected the King must intervene.

A Sooialist rioter was arrested at Jolimont with seventeen dynamite cartridges in his possession. The strikers at Mons are maddened by the death of their comrades, and have sworn to avenge them. The Brussels compositors have struck, and publication of the newspapers is suspended.