THE BOYCOTTED FIRM

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2820, 9 August 1890, Page 2

THE BOYCOTTED FIRM

A PROBABLE SETTLEMENT, DISPUTE TO BE REFERRED TO ARBITRATION.

(11Y TKI.KdIUrH —I'UKSS ASSOCIATION). DuNKI.I.N, Thursday. TllK following ultimatum has been sent to Mes-.rs Whilcombe and Tombs :— "Maritime Council, August 7. Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch.— The Council instruct me to oiler arbitration for tho second time, upon the same terms as formerly. Should you decline, all responsibility of future trouble rests with you, as the Council urn prepared to uphold thb rights of labour at all hazards.— l. A. Mir.Lßlt. The move on the part of Messrs Whltcoinbo and Tombs to open business in Dunedin has been met by the booksellers with a corresponding move, and a company is to be formed to start a bookseller and stationer's business in Christchurch as soon as tho linn opens in Dunedin. With reference to the tost case of goods which Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs are to send to-morrow, of course no attempt will l:e made to stop it on the railways, as the inembeis of the Railway Servants , Union have not received instructions not to handle the goods of the firm, nor will they until a reply is received to the ultimatuir. to submit the matter to arbitration. fiiist Night. The outlook to-day with reference, to the dispute is decidedly more p.omising of solution. The Maritime Council in reply to the Direct >rs' telegram forwarded the issues on which arbitration is desired. Shares are freely taken in the company intending to start in opposition to Messrs White .tube and Tombs in Christchurch. The Wellington booksellers intimate that they are willing to discontinue selling the firm's publications. Circulars have been sent all through the colony requesting teachers to discourage the use of their books. Wki.ungton, Thursday. The Railway Commissioners consider the term "civil commotion" in the. way bill only applies to civil disturbances. They have not altered their position at present, and unless the letter expected from the Maritime Council tu-niumi.v puts a new complexion on the matter, they are determined to suspend men who refuse, to work.

At a meeting of Unionists this evening the difficulty with .Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs was discussed. A bout 80 were present. Mr J. (iraham, president of the Federated Trades Union, presided, and briefly outlined the matters in dispute, and explained that all offers of arbitration had been refused by the firm. Similar resolutions to those passed at the Christchurch meeting wore carried unanimously. At a meeting of the local branch of the Railway Servants, this evening, it was decided to follow any orders issued by the executive. A suggestion that the North fsland employees should not be a>.ked to go out on strike, in order that Ihey might help to support the Southerners, was not well received. It. was reported that this week those on piece work at the Petone workshops had' ourned wages, but did not extpec more than 15s for tho next few weeks. L.stXight. The local Wharf Carters and Expressmen and Htoremens' Unions have decided to support the Maritime Company in the dispute with Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs. The Secretary of the Trades and Labour C.mncil received a tslegra'ii from Mr Miller this afternoon, stating that certain issues are to be siibmiUod to arbitration, and which have been approved by the Executive of the Typographical Association, and a reply sent Mr Millar. There is r. fee ing of reiie.f here at the prosperity of an amicable settlement of the difficulty. The moderate utterances of leaders of the labour party have produced a favourable impression." and there is a general opinion that legislation should be passed, making arbitral i in compulsory in labour disputes. CnuisTCHiMUiii, Thursday. At an enthusiastic meeting held to night to discuss the present dispute between this Typographical Society and Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, there were over three thousand present, and hundreds were unable to get in. The chair was occupied by Mr Parker, President of the Trades and Labour Council, and the following resolutions were carried unanimously, being .spoken to by members of the Maritime Council, Trades and Libour Council. Railway Union, Seamen's Union, lV.ilerurikers, Typ .graphical Association, Bootmakers, and Shop Assistants. The meeting was very orderly, and the speeches moderate in tone: "1. That this meeting recognises the present struggle as an evidence of the apparent combination of capital to crush the labour organisations of the colony, and urges that no compromise be accepted which fails to acknowledge the equal rights of the two interests. 2. That this meeting expresses its indignation at the unworthy tactics

adopted by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs in dealing with labour interests, and pledges itself to resist sweating in whatever form it may be practised, whether by the linn in question or others. 3. That tlm n-eetiug heartily approves of and endorses the action of tho'.Maiitime Council in dealing with the present struggle, and pledge* itself to follow tlin Council in any further steps it may be deemed necessary to take, supporting it to the fullest extent morally and financially. I. That this meeting allirms the necessity of a complete unity of all classes of labour in the colony under one executive, as suggested by the Maritime Council, also that a general defence fund for the whole colony be established in connection therewith, n. That this meeting endorses the necessity t'.r the Labour Hills now before Parliament, and calls upon the members in Parliament assembled to vote in their favour."

Yesterday Anthony Sellers and On. were served with n writ from Me-srs White imbe and Tombs for £550 damages churned on account of an alleged libel in the Trades and li-iboiir Chronicle. Whiteombo and Tombs urn preparing fi test case nf goods, which they intend sending to Dunedin to-niorniw, to see if any obstruction is offered to its passage. Last Night.

It is rumoured that Messrs Wlnteomhe and Tombs have telegraphed to Mr Miller, Secretary of the Maritime Council, asking what points the Council wish tho aroitration on.