MARITIME STRIKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2831, 4 September 1890, Page 2

MARITIME STRIKE.

RAILWAY HANDS l> ISCHARGKD. THE WAIKATO MINES. ALL HANDS ON STEIKE. THJiEAT TO BLOCK ALL IiAILWAY TRAFFIC. (lIV TELKUKAPH—OWX UOIIHKSI'ONDKNT). Auckland, Last Night. Thk strike is still tlio all-absorbing topic. Things wcro quiet to-day on the whurvus, and beyond the crowds of idlers assembled at the Queen-street wlr.irf barricade varying from 100 to 150, there was nothing unusual to catch the eye. The Wairarapa has buen busily loading for .Sydney all day, whither she sails tonight. The Arawata has been discharging hnr Fiji freight all day, non-union labourers handling the cargo. The officers left the Arawain this afternoon. The Arawata discharges her Fiji sugar at the Sugar Work's Wharf, Chelsea, this afternoon, and will not leave again for Fiji just yet but will be anchored in the strewn for tho present and used as a " boarding house" for non-union laborers' crews engaged by the Union s.s, Co. There has been little carting going on on the wharf owing to the determination of the carters to boycott the Union r.j\ Co. The Kmployers' Association has decided to publish a manifesto in which they pledge themselves to stand by the community in the present crisis and to use every endeavour to prevent them from being threatened with starvation tlmiueh the strikes, and protect the men who loyally determine to stand by their employers and not go .mt on strike. It has been signed by a large number of local business men.

A general strike lias occurred in the Waikato coal mines. Tlie directors of the company were nsked by the members of tho Miners' Union to guarantee that no coal hewn from their mines would be supplied to the Union Company. This they declined to do, on the ground that it is impossible they should guarantee that not a cwt. of their coal would find its way into the blinkers of the company through the Auckland dealer.", though the directors state they are neither taking orders from nor supplying the Union Company, but simply supplying local wants for household and other purposes, it is estimated that between four and five hundred miners are now on strike in the Waikato and Miranda. The mines affected are : Taupiri, Tiiupiri Reserve, Taupiri Extended, Ralph's (Huntly), Miranda and Waikato Coal Company's collieries. The miners of the Tallinn Extended Coal Mine went out hut evening, refusing to hew some 100 tuns of coal which they believed had been ordered for the Union Company. It is not likely that the coal supply for local requireirents in the Waikato will run short, as the niineis will work for the public in the cmintry knowing the coal cannot be used except for household purposes. Owing to tho shortness of fuel the blast fiirnunce ut the Onehunga Ironworks was blown down to-night. Several men employed on the w-jiks have been temporarily suspended. Denial is given to tho report circulated to the etiect that the railway men on the Auckland section are to work six days a week for four days' pay. A man named John Stone was fined 40s and costs at the Police Court today, for inciting I lie crowd to bionk down the barricade on the wharf.

(r.v Tt;i,Ki;K.vri[ --pkkss association.) •Vklmnuton , , Lust Night. The Gear Moat Company having demanded arbitration, the Butcher's Union, through not seeing anything to arbitrate abnut, have decided that a company meeting be held to-morrow and consider the position, in the meantime, nothing to be done. A proposal has been made that any one desiring to join the union shall be allowed to do so on giving an acknowledgement that he will pay the entrance fee at some future time. Mr A. I l '. Millar has chartered the brigraitine Clansman to run the Island trade along with the schooner Awarua. An interview was held this afternoon between Sir G. Urey and Messrs lush and Joyce and several of the labour representatives, including Captain Highman, «ocr<stury of tho Maritime Officers' Association, ami Mr A. Seymour, secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union, in reference to a proposal that Parliament should not be prorogued while the labour difficulty is unsettled, lest Parliamentary action in some form should be called for. It is stated that the proposal is generally approved of, and it was left to the three members to take what action was considered necessary.

This afternoon the Riilway Commissioners received the fallowing telegram from Mr Edwards, Secretary of the Railway Servants' Executive at Christcliurch :— " Maritime Council instructs me to advi«e you tliiit if you persist in forcing railway men to work for Union Company must be compelled to block everything."— To this the Commissioners replied that the railway employees are not culled on to do work for the Union Company. They have to perform work for the Railway Commissioners, as public servants, in accordance with the rules unci regulations under which they aro engaged, and which they bind themselves to observe. The Railway Commissioners cannot refiiso to handle and convey any goods which me preferred in the way of ordinary railway business, and all their employees must be prepared to assist in any way necessary as is specially provided by the rules, and has hitherto been the practice.

At a meeting of the newly-formed Shipmasters Association this afternoon 2") members were present, it was announced there are-12 active and 12 honorary members. All captains outsidi.' of the Union Company (in Wellington) have joined. A Committee of Management, loin- mates and four captains, has been appointed.

A storcnian in the employ 'if one of the city merchants, to-day refused to handle goods for shipment by the Union Company's steamer, and was thereupon dismissed. The Storeman's Union have therefore called out its members. The majority obeyed, but at Levin and Company only two out of seven went out, the Windale L r uiou Company's storemen also refused to come out.

Capt. Highman and Messrs 1). P. Kisher, Myers and Scott will have a private interview the Premier this evening to discuss the question. The Union Company worked the Waihora with non-Union labour, and the steamer sailed south at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The weather to-day was very cold and wet, consequently the wharf was almost deserted. The boiler makers decided nor to work for tho Union Company until the difficulty in ovur. The Railway Commissioners notify that the permanent way men who were called on in accordance with the twins of their engagement to carry on tho handling of goods at Lyttlotou after being allowed 12 hours for deliberation have finally declined to obey the rules and regulations of the departmeu and therefore they havo been paid up t>. the number of forty four hands by order of the Commissioners. The Cabinet have considered the urgent deputation which waited on the Premier on Monday, and decided not to take any action iu the direction of mediation but to remain perfectly neutral. A meeting of those who recently left the Union Steain Ship Company's service and have joined the Shipmasters' Association was held this afternoon. Captain Highman, secretary of the Maritiire Officers' Association, stated that the officers .vera of opinion that they are ir. honour bound to stand by their brother officers and Lhe Maritime Council, and tliat a resolution wns passed to the effect that none of the officers should re-enter the service of the Union Company until the present difficulty is settled. Captain lliglmiau also stated Mint, all the Union Company officers at Lyttolton and Duuedin, iu order In show their fidelity, have forwarded their certificates to .Sir Robert Stout, at Dunedin. The Commissioners sent a reply to the Christehiireh Chamber of Commerce accepting their oti'er to supply labour with thanks, instructing their manager accordingly. Woodvii.i.k, Lnst Night. Tho railway servants here have intimated to the officers of the Railway Union their desire that tho Union should break olf from the Maritime Council, otherwise they must leave the union. GisiiOiiNK, List Night. A largely attended meeting of employers was held this afteru.iou, the principal run holders and|chief business men were present, and resolutions were unanimously carried

" tlmt tlie meetint: views witli rugret the presentlabour striken, and tb.it those piesent bind themselves to tike whatever .steps may be considered necessary, to conserve perfect freedom of both employers and employees." A strong eninniittuo wms formed to give etfect to the n>-si.lntum. Nkw Plymouth, Inst XHit. The railwny men receive! it telegram from the Maritime Council, wiintinu to know if they are cnllnd on will they strike. V rtmi what the men siv their idea is that the strike should not mll'ocl, T.iranaki, and it is generally believed the railway hands will be loyal to the It lilwuy Commissioners. Dunkiiin. Last Night. The MiUiiiponri iirrivc.d at S o'clock, when the otHeers, seamen, liromim, cooks, trimers, and stewards immediately went ashore, pursuant to notice. Discharging was o menci'd without delay, in tho presence of a small number of onlookers, who were orderly. The M..18JH.1 Woollen l<\ictoiy work only two-thirds time. Everything is quiet on the wharves this afternoon. The labour party are drawing the boycott more tightly round the Company. Their meat contractors have been ordered not to supply, as have also local colleries and millers.