THE MARITIME STRIKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 497, 23 August 1890, Page 2

THE MARITIME STRIKE.

Sydney, August 21. Policemen are stationed at tho wharves, watching what goes on outside. A slight scrimmage took place last night between Unionists and Non Unionists, which ended in a free fifht. Lumps of road metal were thrown about freely, but no injuries are reported. Tho strike is affecting ocean liners, as laborers refuse to coal big steamers. Eighty Nor-Unioniets are at work coaling 'he M's-iageries’ Company’s Australien, under the protection of policemen. They sleep on the wharf, and take their meals aboard. A daring, but unsuccessful, attempt was made last night to set fire to the wharf and buildincs, by lighting a bale of straw. It is rumored that 500 gasmen intend to strike in support of the maritime bodies. There are now 4,500 men on strike in Sydney, affecting 15,000 souls. Produce is rapidly advancing in price. It is understood that one firm has engaged 150 non Unionists to work vee els. The slaughtermen refuse to kill sheep shorn by non Unionists, and butchers’ employees are influencing th-ir masters to boycott the stock of sellers who sympathise with those opposing the Shearers' Union, Engineers are being discharged, and captains are being placed on halfpay, Commercial men propose meeting to consider the position of affairs. In some instances clerks of ships’ owners are engaged in the work of discharging vessels. Mass meetings of gas stokers will be held to-morrow to consider the action to be taken in the present crisis. The wool stevedores are still idle, and no attempt has been made to employ non Unionists to load wool. Woo) >bips are not available, and in many instances squatters have postponed shearing. It will be impossible to store wool in Sydney if shearing operations and the strike continue, is there is only accommodation for 100.000 bales. Melbourne, August 11. The steamship owners of Melbourne will meet Sydney owners at Albury on Saturday, and confer on the situation.

Hobart, August 21. Priooe Me advancing rapidly owing to tho strike.

Newcastle, August 21. Freights to Melbourne have advanced from 4s to 255, tc Adelaide from 10s to 35s a ton. Tonnage is largely sought for New Zealand ports at fancy prices. It is reported that at least a dozen steamers have been offered to the Trade and Labor Council under charter for the coal trade. Adelaide, August 21, Business is stagnant owing to the strike. The railways have a three months’ supply of coal,

Brisbane, August 21, Many leading citizens are assisting in the unloading of vessels. The British India Co's steamers are now being boycotted. The wages withdrawn from circulation by the stoppage of all the Australian Company’s steamers will amount to £lOO,OOO per month for seamen and wharf laborere alone. The marine engineers decline to strike. The Strike Committee have Cabled to the London Dock Laborers’ Union asking if they are prepared for a general blockade of the Biitish India Steamship Company’s steamers at every port in the world.

Hobart, August 21. Prices are advancing rapidly owing to the strike,

Dunedin, last night. The Union Company have received information that the wharf laborers at Sydney have refused to discharge the cargo of the eteamer Tuieri, which arrived there thia morning. The crew of the Waihora discharged that vessel, and she was to leave for Newcastle to-night.