THE MARITIME STRIKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 500, 30 August 1890, Page 2

THE MARITIME STRIKE.

AFFAIRS IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, August 28. A Committee of Mediation, consisting of influential gentlemen not connected with either side, has been foimed. They are reticent as to their intentions. Seven hundred colliers have been locked out at Newcastle, where riots occurred. One of the rioters has been sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. Local freights and potatoes have risen 500 per cent., but dairy produce remains at ordinary prices, aS large supplies are coming in by rail.

A Gazette was published to-day, proclaiming that stringent measures would be taken to maintain law, and afford complete security to persons engaged in their lawful callings. Several cases of illtreatment of free laborers occurred to-day. At one wharf it was found necessary to domicile the men on the wharf. Adelaide, August 28. Strike matters are quiet at present. There is no free labor available at Port Adelaide, and strike funds are coming in freely. Melbourne, August 28. The gas strike has assumed a serious aspect. So far the free labor has not been capable of doing the work properly, and consequently the gas has been cut off in the city during the day, causing serious inconvenience where it is used as a motive power. The street supply will be cut oft’ on moonlight nights, and the Press urge the people to largely reduce domestic consumption. A mob stormed the Fitzroy gas works, and made an ineffectual attempt to get at the free laborers engaged there, but a large body of police dispersed the rioters. Constables are being drafted into the city from the country districts, and the Artillery men ordered up from Queenscliffe. Bbpbane, August 28. Several Unionists have ivritten to the Press, blaming their leaders for getting them into the difficulty, and asking to be reinstated on the works.

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, last night. To day there was some excitement in town when it became known that the lumpers engaged on tbe Union Company’s steamers tn port had knocked off work in obedience to a call from the hcadtitiarters of the Union. There is an universal strike of wharf laborer, on »n the Union Company’s steamers. At 10 o’clock sharp every man struck work and walked on to the wharf. Even carts alongside, ball emptied, emptied, or loaded, were left as they etnnd. There was no disturbance of any sort. The Company did not call on nonunionists to work the cargo, but merely set the crew to work at shipping cargo from tbe wharf into the «oal,'< lmao, air this alj—uoon men were busily eng.ged getting in the cargo in readiness to sail for Gisborne and South. The steamer is expected to sail to morrow for Gisborne and Southern ports. It is stated that one of the reasons of the strike was that t'qe steamer was taking in cargo for Sydney. The Wharf Laborers’ Union authorities state that the main reason for tho general strike of lumpers is the action of the Union Company in p ining the Australian Shipowners Association. After calling out the lumpers engaged on the Waihora, the Secretary of the Wharf Laborers’ Union proceeded up to the Chelsea sugar works wharf, and intimated to

men similarly employed in tho Union S.S, Company's steamer Pukaki, at work discharging there, the news that they were called on from head quarters to strike. Tha lumpers at once knocked off work and left the vessel, the crew taking their place at working the cargo. There was no disturbance of any kind. The officers of the steamers Waihora and

Pukaki have refused to go out on strike, and have intimated this resolve to head quarters. It is stated that the supply r-f food now in the city is hardly sufficient for more than a week, Wholesale holders of food staffs in town are disinclined to soli, or will only part with the stocks in small quantities to regular customers: In the present 'disorganised state ■of trade affairs it is impossible to fix the value of many staple articles. Taking potatoes, for example. Some Auckland holders are selling at £6, while others refuse to sell at all, and hold on to thsir stock waiting further contingencies. Wheat, oats, pearl barley, and southern flour have all risen greatly in value. Coal is in very brisk demand, and prices are high, but so unsettled that it is impossible to fix quotations. The usual railway traffic on tbe Auckland lines has not yet been altered or suspended through short supplies of coal. The Newmarket workshops are now. however, working on)y four days a week. Within the last two days close on fifty girh have been thrown out of employment at one sbirt factory in the city in consequence of the strike,

Naeibb, last night. The labor strikes are causing a good deal of apprehension here lest dearth of provisions should ensue. Another rise of £1 per ton on coal is anticipated, and one coal merchant has aloged his yard to hold for future use. Tbe closing of the railway workshops two days per week is causing much dissatisfaction. Blenheim, last night The Union Company shipped a nonunion crew per Kanieri last night. They went over ' to Wellington as passengers, and will start work when the Union crow go oat to day. The agents had no difficulty in getting hands, and hive received a large rhmber of applications for employment. Last night the halyards of th" Company's flag were out to pieceta Euol and food ate fa prjea, ■' c ’

Wellington, last night. There was little exciietnmt on the wharves Ihis morning, and very few vessels arc in. The crews from the Takapuna, from Nelson, and Knmieri. from Blenheim, came out this mnrni-g. Both arc manned with free labor, and will sail this afternoon. The officers do noi appear anxious to wiilfflraw, and some assert they will not until shown that the majority are willing to do so. The wharf 'abnrers have gone out on strike. The Kamieri managed to get away to Blenheim, hut the Takapuna, which was to have gone South, still has her catgi on hoard. The Waretea arrived from Auckland this morning, and the cargo was not touched. The Union Company will endeavor to get the Takapuna away, but it is doubtful if they will succeed. The Dorio is not affected by the strike. The lumpers are hanging about the wharf, and everything is quiet. Westpoet, last night. Acting on instructions from the Maritime Council to boycott the Union steamers, the wharf lumpers loading the Grafton and Mawhera last night were called out by tho Westport Labor Union Committee at 8.30, leaving the Mawhcra and Mahinspna unloaded. The railway managers then summoned tho permanent way men to load the vessel. At 5 this morning they commenced work, but were also called out, one man out of twenty only remaining. The strikers were suspended. The Union Company’s manager, clerks, and several townspeople are working the vessels. Tbe Mayor has convened a meeting of townspeople to consider the position. All work at the Denniston mine closed at 2 p.m., until further notice, by order of the Maritime Council. The railway manager notifies that on and after to morrow all passengers and goods traffic on the railway will be suspended, Ata meeting of officers of th? Grafton, Mahinapua, and Maivhera a resolution was passed protesting against Mr Millar’s request to break the agreement recently entered into with the Company.

Christchurch, last night.

About 400 persons went out to the port to day by the 12 10 train. The Union Company had engaged a number of hands to he’p tn unload the boats. Farmers and their sons offered their services, while merchants and others were also In the train. About eight hundred were on the platform at Christchurch to see them off. and there was a little groaning, but no disturbance. The Union Company elate they have as much labor as they want to unload vessels. A meeting of officers belonging to the Union Company’s steamers was held yesterday evening on board the Penguin. They inc’uded officers from the Tekapo, Wakatlpu, Dingndee, and Penguin, It was decided that if non-Union seamen or firemen were put on board they would decline to go to sea with them.

Dunedin, last night The officers of tbe Waihora, Mahinapua, Puknlji, Mawhera, and Grafton have refused to come out of their ahips, and mean to .land hv the Company. The officers of tbe steamer Wairarapa gave notice at 4 p m yesterday of their intention to leave. Every effort was therefore made to gat the veißt-l away for the North before the notice expired, and as the cooks and stewards remained on board only 30 men were required as seamen, firemen, and trimmers. This number tbe Company allege they secured, but they were not visible when the Wairarapa cast off from the wharf. There was a large crowd to watch her departure, and a space had been barricaded off alongside, so that the passengers could pass to and fro. When the steamer castoff the Company’s clerks were to be seen hauling in lines, among them being a prominent footballer who was the subject of some good humored "barracking." As two non Unionists were seen in the stern coaling, some groans were raised, to which one of them replied with a deflant “ Hurrah.’’ This was the only thing in the way of a demonstration. Most of the directors, managers, and other officers of the Company were on the wharf, and were relieved when they got away their first steamer. The Wairarapa had a mail on board. It was understood the Company’s clerks would come ashore from the steamer by a tug which attended the Wairarapa. The labor party state the officers were compelled to go to sea under a threat af prosecution if they disobeyed orders, and that before going they protested strongly. The Union Company, on the other hand, state that not a single word was said about compelling them to stop. They knew that if the officers came out they could easily fill their places with competent men. The crew of the Brunner left the vessel at noon. The officers, crew, firemen, and trimmers of the Te Anau gave notice to-day as soon as the vessel arrived, and they leave in the morning. Notwithstanding this the Union Company are sanguide they will be able to despatch her for Melbourne on Saturday. The cooks and stewards of theTe Anau had a meeting, and decided that they would not strike, and those of the Brunner have come to a similar decision.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

In going through our exchanges we can hardly find a good word for the Labor organisations for permitting trade to be paralysed as it is at present, and the condemnation is almost universal. Tbe Wellington Post, which generally gives good support to the Labor cause, had the following article on Tuesday evening:— The news that the hands employed on the Union Company 1 , steamers Tarawera and Tairei have struck in Sydney is the worst which has come over the cable in connection with the Australian labour dispute. The news was exceedingly f’minous. although the information is somewhat deficient in detail. It cannot reasonably be supposed that the man engaged on these two steamers have acted on their own motion or their own responsibility. They are not subject to the direction of any controlling power in Australia, but they owe allegiance, through the affiliated Unions to which they belong, to tbe Maritime Council in thia colony. With that body the responsibility for what they have done may naturally be assumed to rest until it ia not only disclaimed but the power of tha Council exercised to bring the men back to their work. That tbe Council has the power to do this can scarcely be doubted, and if it is not exercised in the present case the Council will undoubtedly become responsible for what may result. If the Council has in.tigat.d or approves of the action of the hands of the Jairei and Tarawera in making common cause with Australian strikers, the consequences will be extremely' serious. The New Zealand seamen, firemen, and trimmers have nothing whalever to do with, and no interest in, the points in dispute between the maritime employers and employees in Austra’ia. Neither their rights nor interests are in any

way affected, and their intrusion into and b participation in the contest is of tbe most , gratbitons character, and quite qnjusitfiable. The fact that the Union Company is a member of the Shipowners’ Association affords no grounds for hostile action against it in the present case, and if such action is taken it can only ba regarded as an act of aggression, calculated to invite the struggle and oriels which it was hoped had been happily averted when the threatened general strike over the Whitcombe and Tombs dispute was abandoned. The struggle, as far as New Zealand ie concerned, will not be to secure any right which has been denied, or to remedy any grievance, which effects those who bring it on. It will be a deliberate contest between Labour and Capital for absolute supremacy and oontrol. Such a contest is on every ground, of humanity, princjp'e, and expendiency, to be deprecated and deplored. Its consequences will be widespread and terrible, and will afflict tens of thousands of perfectly innocent people. It will retard the progress of the colony, and will leave effects which will be felt for genera, tions, both bv the State and in social life. The H.B Herald, a staid and well-written Tory paper, thus comments on|the position A short time ago, writing on the threatened strike of seamen and docE-’aborera, and the union organisations affiliated with them, wo ventured to prophesy that such a movement on the part of labor would be suicidal, and stated reasons in support of that assertion. For that we were ” boycotted ” by Mr Creagh, who seems to bo the sole executive of the labor unions of Hawke’s Bay. Wo did not then think that evcuis .would ao scon t

just fy that prophecy. Yet onyoue reading our telegraphic messages this morning must either bn a crass fool or admit that wn were right. Hardly has the strike extended to New Zealand, when signs of its inevitable collapse appear. Nowhere is there tha slightest public sympathy with thestrikera—on the contrary, they are met with univeraal condemnation. No reason whatever has been shown for the strikes, and the strikers then.aelves are the loudest complainants. The marine engineers of Austra’ia, who struck 1 |i the command of their executive, have publicly denounced the strike. At Port Ahuriri the moat bitter opponents of the notion of the Maritime Connell of New Zealand are found among members of unions who in a weak moment agreed to affiliate with the Council. It is the sama all over Australia and New Zealand. Under such conditions no strike could last long. Tbe end, however, has been hastened by tbe idiotic action of thn unions themselves. To them a general strike seemed a (guarantee of success, as it doubt'eas would appear tn men incapable of seeing beyond the limited srea represented by a circle drawn round the tips of their own noses. So some of the Newcastle miners went out on strike, to prevent vessels coaling, so that even if the si earners got free labor crews they could not sail. Tbe masters followed sni', and closed the remaining mines. This has stepped all work “at the Broken Hill silver mines. What that means will be realised when it is remembered lhat lhe Broken Hill miners promised £lO.OOO a WMk to the wharf laborers. They paid their firrt contiibution, bnt it is a safe assertion to say that no more will follow Out of work their: selves, they will want assiatance instead cf being in a position to fling thousands ot pounds a week to others. In New Zealand from all parts comes information fthat tha public svmpathy is entirely with tbe Union Steamship Company, and the partial cessation of the work on railways and in manufactories due to the short supply of onal consequent on the strike, will precipitate the inevitable (nd. When that comes some thousands of unionists will have learned several lessons, not the least of which will be that they were guilty of blind folly in entrusting lhe destinies of thetuw I selves and families to political vfire-pullm.

MR LYSNAR’S OPINION.

Mr William Dean Lrsnar writes :—To the Editor : Sir—To render the present strikes of the working classes materially effective .nd lasting, to afford a solid basis for conciliating the various interests affected, as wall as th promote the Industries of the country ia general, the following suggestions art offered : —l. To remove alt taxes from every article of daily food ; 2. To abolish th. Property Tax; 8. To impose a tax on land which will make up the deficiency canted by the withdrawal of the other two eouroee of revenue, These alterations may be briefly thus stated: Custom’, duty on tM, augt'j rice, coffee, tobacco; annual amount 0! Property tax. Tbe effect ot these change, would be to open up the fertile land lot settlement by the working classes; to raduot the rate of wages; to offer facilitlee to capitalists to invest in this country, by remoW ing existing obstacles ; and to place all classes on a more substantial footing, which can never be achieved by the present chaotic stateof things. Wages is a matter that must ba regulated by many outward circumstances--there cannot be any herd and fast rule to coerce it. Common sense would tell us that a man cannot work with a wot blanket ’ strapped round his shoulders; his movements must be as free and unimpeded as possible, With cheap and abundant food, and easy access to good land, the working man needs no protection ■ be is well enough able to take cart of himself,

THE NAPIER BOYCOTT.

At a fully attended meeting the Typographical Society on Saturday night condemned the boycott of tha Hawke’s Bay Herald ordered by Mr Creagh, Secretary of the Federated Wharf Laborers’ Union, and motions were passed asking the Laborers’ Union, also the Maritime Council, whether Mr Creagh was authorised in his action. It was also ’ decided that copies of the loosj papers containing articles In reference tq Messrs Whitcombs and Tombs be forwarder} to the Maritime Council. An opinion was expressed that Unionist, should not burke criticism of their actions by resorting to the boycott, thus making themselves a power frw evil instead offer good. Mr Creagh con-' vened a meeting of wharf laborers for Mondsy morning. About 40 out of 200 member, were present. No notice of the meeting or report of its proceedings was furnished to either the Herald or Telegraph, bnt according to what appears in an authorised account in'theNevy? he condemned as very injudicious the aetjon of the Maritime Council in taking up the Whitcombe and Tombs affair. Ho offered the following explanation of how the Council came to interfereMr D. P. Fisher wan Secretary io Wellington of the Typographical Association, and represented the wharf laborer, on the Maritime Council, and it was recently decided that only a true representer live of the wharf laborers should henceforth be chosen, and not an outsider, Mr D. P, Fisher, seeing that he would lose his Mat, made a last move in the direction of dragging the Maritime Council into the dispute between the printer, and Whitcombe and Tombs, he being himself a printer. The meeting approved of the action of Mr Creagh. Mr D. P. Fisher absolutely denies Mr Creagh’. allegations against him contained in Mr Creagh’s “explanation,” and will, he says, take tha opinion of the Maritime Council aa to what steps they may deem it advisable he should pursue with regard to Mr Creagh.

IMPORTS. Th. following ia a list of the import, by the two steamers whiob have arrived linos the strike :— Par Southern Orosi—4 chests tea. Dasha, Akroyd and Porter; 1 oas&tobaoM, 5 pkgs, 1 case, 1 pel, Common, Shelton and Oo.; 2 case?, 2 sacks, Budd; 10 oases, O. Lewi. : 1 pkg, Clayton and Sawyer; 1 cask, I bale. Townlev ; 5 oases. 1 box, O: P. Browne ; 8 pkgs, Wingate, Burna and Oo.; 2 oases, Parnell and Co. ; 3 cases, Priohard. Sundry packages for rations oonsigness. Per Awaroa—so tons coal, 20 tons salt, IM drain pipes, 800 palings, 2 tons limo, Clayton and Sawyer.

Per Australis—24 pkgs, 6 empty tanks, 78 sacks potatoes, Common, Shilton and Co. 1 1 pkg. 3 oner tea, Whinray 1 lg pkgs, J>, Hall t 2 kegs, I box. L. and M- Oo.) 10 pkgs, Sandlant Bros.; 1 keg yeast, Craig • 1 case matches, Pitt and Maguire; and a quantity of cargo for various consignees.

On enquiry we learn that tfaers ia k fairly good supply of flour in G|shorne at prasant, but the price has already gone Up, being nd doubt caused by tha scarcity feared in ths near future. There has also been * pgq, siderable rise la the price of fuel.

A meeting of the newly formed Gisborne branch cf the federated Working Men’s Association will be held at Porter’s Hall thia evening. Books of rules have been received by Mr Cooper, the' Secretary. Beside! thf transaction of routine businus there Is .Ukaly to be a discussion on the present aspeot of affairs. ’ —w - -v

A meeting of employers of firm snd ststion labor, and members of firms that undertake the shipping of produce, ia eall.d for Wednesday next, to ditouss the labor question. The meeting la convened by Mr E. Murphy, The licensee of a prominent hotel In Wellington has been warned that if the Chinese Cook in his employ is not dfoohargeci forthwith the house will 'be boycotted. A similar notice has also been given to th. proprietor of a city laundry who has a Chinese laundryman on the