THE MARITIME STRIKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 499, 28 August 1890, Page 3

THE MARITIME STRIKE.

PARALYSIS OF TRADE. Sydney, August 26. There is no material change here in strike mitten.

The Union Company's steamers Ohau, Tarawera, and Taieri are being unloaded by tree labor, of which there is plenty available,

The cooks and stewards still remain on the Union Company’s vessels. The Shearers' Union has forwarded its first instalment ot £lO,OOO to assist the strikers. Employers have established labor bureaux, where nonunionists can apply tor work. Bbifbane, August 26. There is a good deal of excitement over the labor difficulty at Rockhampton, where public sympathy is avainet the strikers, and the shopkeepers have refused to give credit to the latter. Volunteers are rapidly discharging the vessels. Melbocbne, August 20. The Unionists assaulted a party of free laborers, who had to seek refuge at the police Ifetion.

Nkwcastlx, August 26. A large crowd rushed one steamer, dragged the free laborers from tbeir work, and \aeverely illused them. The men were ultimately rescued by the police. Auckland, last night. The Mararoa was despatched to Sydney at seven this morning, owing to the fears of a ■trike. She was filled with freight, and left 200 tons on the wharf.

The Union Company are advertising here for non-U nion firemen, trimmers, and seamen for their vessels. The Company's time tables have been withdrawn from the papers. Wellington, last night. Shortly after noon to day, Mr Taylor, Mcrstary ot the local branch of the Seamen's Union, rt=q»e*t»d all the seamen and firemen on the Union Company's vessels in port to give twenty-four hours’ notice of tbeir inten. tion to leave their ships. The men complied with the request, and go out at noon tomorrow, Only the Union Company's vessels an affected. DcNinrw, last night The crew of the Wairarapa left the ship at noon. A large crowd assembled at the wharf. Several fresh men have been engaged, and it is believed a crew will be Obtained to morrow. Consequent on this engagement of free labor 24 hours’ notice has been given of all theaeamen leaving the coasting vessels. The crews of the Brunner and Bank's Peninsula leave to-morrow. The Star says the action of the Maritime Council ds a "blunder which will alienate public sympathy from the Unions, a* the free course of trade cannot be interfered with when no substantial grievances require to be redressed. It urges a messmseting of Unionists to consider the ’ position, which it regards as critical. The company have received a telegram from different places containing offers of non- • Union men to fill all tfie positions on board the r steamer?, and it is believed that nearly 1 the whole fleet could be kept going by non— Unionists if the Company chose to adopt that eoarse.

The e.e. Jubilee is not and a large amount of freight was yesterday booked at high rates for Sydney, tbs agents 'refusing totals mor*.

Only about 80 of ihs men belonging to the Tarawera have giren notice. The engineers are not likely to strike, ‘ li ft evident the Union Company intend to fight the question out. Th-y are advertising fer men tp man the steamers on which the paamßD and firemen have given notice. Th® set of calling out the crews from the Intercolonial boats of the Union Company induced the Directors to hold a yesterday to consider the situation. and at a late hour l»st night they Issued the following manifesto :—“ The Directors of the Union Steamship Cflßpany of KeWZea’and have arrived at » the conclusion, with much regret, that the present policy of the Labor Unions of all AusUaWa, which has led to an imminent paralysis of trade in all the colonies, and which baa kept np a constant irritation and pabeawblenncetatnty in all departments of tsnEn for sowe months past, is the outcome wf gMMaI detennisation on their part to

try their strength with all employers of labor. T here has been no dispute of a serious character in New Zealand, and the disputes in Australia cannot be con* sidered to be any relation to the measures adopted by the Union Company's directors. They have therefore no alternative left but to fall in with the resolutions of the Steamship Owners’ Association and other employers of labor, and to support them to the utmost of their power in opposing the encroachments of the labor unions by every possible means until it is found that negotiations can be opened with some prospect of such settlement as will enable them to conduct business with some degree of comfort and confidence. They have no hesition in declaring that the wages paid by them for many years are such as no reasonable man can complain of, and that their relations wi h all classes of their men have always been such as they hive a right to regard with satisfaction. Therefore they unhesitatingly throw the whole responsibility of this very serious disorganisation which is about to ensue.upon the shoulders of the leaders of the Unions, ”

Only fifteen of the Wairarapa’s crew have left the ship.

A good deal of free labor is offering from the North as well as here.

The local Secretary ofthe Marine Engineers denies that they are favorable to a strike. They are not in any way associated either with the maritime or any other organisations, and decline to take notice of the instructions of the former. They have no desire to be drawn into the present difficulty. They also deoy that their organisation in Australia has given notice to leave their ships.