THE GREAT STRIKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2674, 31 August 1889, Page 2

THE GREAT STRIKE.

SPREADING OVER THE COUNTRY. FAMILIES JSUi-'FERLN'G. (l)Y CI.KCTIUO TKXICdIiAL'H. —COPYRIGHT.) London , , August 20. Bunxs, the Socialist, stiitos that 150,000 strikers firo determined to prevent thj omployrnout of Belgian labourers to the exclusion of British .subjects. The joint committoe of companies and strikers has advised the abolition of middlemen and an increase in wages. The Thames Wharfingers havo accepted the strikers' terms, and the men will resume work to-day. The dock ownei's have held a conference, at which it was decided to agree to everything except the demand for sixpence an hour. The wharfingers will unload on to the wharves from mid-stream, and boycott the docks. Seventy thousand carcases of Australian mutton have been landed. The Glasgow dock labourers are demanding an advance of -£d per hour. Thousands similarly situated are striking daily. Men who do not belong to unions are totally without means, and frightful privation has been caused by this labour crisis The payments from the strike funds average £1000 per day. Thousands of women and children besiege the food depots, whero the scenes are perfectly harrowing. The committee beg that the strike may be confined to the Riverside labourers, otherwise they fear the movement will collapse from its own inherent weakness. August 30. The Strike Committee describe the companies' concession as ;i farce, and announce that it will call the labour of all grades and description out on strike on Monday, unless the demands of the men are conceded in full by noon on Saturday. The Australia has arrived at Plymouth, and has been ordered to Gravcsend. The Liguria is loading at Plymouth. The wharfingers threaten that unless the doek companies virtually concede to the men's demands they will proceed to work the wharves and unload ships in the river instead of at the docks. The strikers have agreed to this course, but the companies adhere to the determination arrived at yesterday, not to grant an increase of wages. The strikers have permitted the Fifeshire and Kaikoura to unload their mutton, and the market is eoiisoqu.en.tly abundantly stocked, and business is flat. Prices are the same as last week. Brisbane, August 30. The wharf labourers here have cabled £150 in aid of the London dock men.