THE LABOUR STRIKES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2541, 23 October 1888, Page 2

THE LABOUR STRIKES

COAL MINERS' STRIKE. Svdnev, Octobcr 21. The conference of delegates from lho niino managers and the minors have made satisfactory progress towards settlement ol' matters now in disputo. Tlio men have given way to the minimum and the managers to the maximum proposals by which the masters delated the standard of seams. THREATENED SEAMEN'S STRIKE AND LOCK-OUT. With reference to the rumoured strike of seamen in Now Zealand, the Steamship Owners Association liavo resolved not to permit the Union S.B. Company of Now Zealand to be singled out, and declare that if seamen engaged 011 the fleet of tho latter company are withdrawn, they will be looked-out by their companies. It is not improbable that the proprietors of the coal mines will amalgamate with the Shipowners' Association in resisting the action taken by the labour agitators. [FROM OUIt OWN COItKKSPOXDENT.J Syiinky, October 10. The Newcastle strike has taken a turn fur the worse.. It was seduously announced from Jay to day that the mediation committee were making good progress, and that a settlement was near at hand. The acceptance of the Stockton agreement was regarded as most encouraging, and it was hoped it set an example which would be generally followed. But Stockton in accepting the agreement, withdrew from the coal-owner's association, thereby giving great umbrage. When the mediation committee signified their desire of interviewing the mastei's association, the latter declined to aee them, and held out, in very unmistakeable language, a threat that they would seek for labour outside the present body of miners, unless the latter speedily came to terms. Some consider that this is only "bluff," others aver that negotiations are already on foot by which several shiploads of European miners, who have been accustomed to work for very low wages indeed, are to be landed within a few weeks. Meanwhile, we can only await further developments. The number of mines which have gone to work have in some measure relieved the coal famine. In fact, such a stimulus has been given to production that it seems almost certain that when the mines do get to work again, the price of coal will be much lower than it has been. If so, miners' wages and shareholders' dividends will alike suffer.