THE MARITIME STRIKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 502, 4 September 1890, Page 2

THE MARITIME STRIKE.

AFFAIRS IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, Sept. 2. At a meeting attended by 1,500 employers and leading business men, resolutions were passed in the direction of having a combination of employers in all the colonies.

The Miners’ Ccnference decided to call our all the Illawarra miners, but to allow the Lithgow miners to continue. The public are therefore dependent on the latter. The restriction has been placed on the Illawarra miners in order to prevent the supply of coal to ships manned with free labor.

Four strikers were to-day charged with breaking contracts by leaving the employ of Lamb’s wool store, and were fined ,£lO each and costs, and ordered to undergo, in default, 14 days’ imprisonment. The men had been receiving per week, and is gd per hour overtime. In defence they said they dared not refuse the mandate of the Union.

At a meeting of local mine owners it was decided to close the mines indefinitely. Some Unionists boarded the German steamer Chemnity to-day, and turned the free laborers ashore neck and crop, several of them receiving nasty falls. A howling mob surrounded the steamship Rodondo, about to sail for Brisbane, and stuck up cabs going to the steamer. The occupants were then cross-examined as to whether they were a portion of the free labor engaged to take the ship away. Some who refused to give the information asked for, were dragged from their vehicles, and had to seek refuge in flight. Messrs Dalgety and Co. have engaged sufficient free labor, at £3 5s per week, to carry on their business of wool exportation.

THE POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, laat night. In Auckland district the consequences are already serious enough. All the Waikato coal mines are closed, and the want of fuel is seriously embarassing mills and other establishments. The town trade is very severely handicapped by the boycott planed on the Union Steam Ship Company's steamers, and hundreds of men in this district alone are already out of employment. If the struggle is to be a prolonged one there will undoubtedly he much distress. Employers of labor have issued a manifesto in which they pledge themselves to stand by the community in the present crisis, and to ose every endeavor to prevent them from being threatened with starvation through the strikes, and to nro'eot the men who loyally determine to stick by their employers and not go out on strike. The manifesto is signed by a very large number of local business men. It is estimated that between 400 and 500 coal miners are now on strike in Waikato and at the Miranda. The mines affected by the strike are—Taupiri Reserve, Taupiri Extended, Ralph’s (Huntley), Miranda, and Waikato Coal Company’s Collieries. The miners in the Taupiri Extended coal mine, Waikato Biver West, went out on strike last evening, refusing to hew some 400 tons of coal which they believed had been ordered for Union Company.

The railway servants mat last night and decided to support the action of the Maritime Council. At a meeting ol the Coastal Seamen’s Union it was unanimously agreed to endorse the action of the Maritime Council in the nresent labor dispute. Hopes were expressed for a speedy settlement. At the Trades and Labor Council meeting last night it was decided to levy on all trades affiliated to the Council, for the purpose of assisting those out on strike. Things are quiet to day on the wharf. Beyond crowds of idlers assemble! at Queen street wharf barricade, varying from 100 to 150 dr so during the day, there was nothing unusual to catch the eye.

The Wairarapa was busily coaling last night with nonunionists, at Queen street wharf, and was loading up today for Sydney, whither she sails to night. The Arawata was discharging her Fiji freight all day, nonunion laborers handling the cargo. Some nonunion men were sent down yesterday afternoon by the Union Company to hasten the work of discharging, and accordingly the crew struck work at once. They left the vessel in a body this morning, The officers left the Arawata this afternoon. The Arawata discharges her Fiji sugar at the sugar works wharf, at Chelsea, this afternoon. She will not leave again for Fiji just yet, but will be anchored out in the stream for the present, to be used as a “ boarding house ” for the nonunion laborers and crews engaged by the Union Company. The ship Waitangi, at Queen Street wharf, had her hatches sealed up yesterday afternoon, and hauled out into the stream, where she is now lying at anchor, pendiog arrangements for the discharge of the remainder of her London cargo, ths lumpers having struck in retaliation on the warehousemen for allowing their hands to discharge the Australis.

Little carting was going on at the wharf during the day, owing to the determination of the carters to boycott the Union Company. The Australia was np at the Chelsea Sugar Works today, loading for the East Coast and Wellington, whither she sails this evening, with her nonunion crew. The Pukaki completed her coaling at the Bay of Islands yesterday afternoon, an! left Bussell for Fiji at 5, with her nonunion crew.

Many establishments and factories in town are Buffering from short supplies of fuel. It is stated that the Koller flour mills, Auckland freezing company, Union oil, soap, and candle company, Onehunga iron works, and other businesses will be affected by the strike, and consequent qhort ness of fuel. The blast furnace at the Onehunga ironworks is to be blown down to night, and several men employed at the works have been temporarily suspended owing to the partial stoppage of operations. Tabanaki, last night.

The railway men have received a telegram from the Maritime Council wanting to know jf called on will tfoey strike, From what the men say their idea is that the strike should not affect Taranaki, Wellington, last night.

The boiler makers have decided not to work for the Union Company until the dispute ta over.

If the railway hands go out communication with Wairarapa will be kept up by carls, each e?preg?nian taking a certain section,

Permanent waymen who were called on to handle goods at Lyttelton, after being allowed 12 hours for deliberation, have finally declined to obey, and therefore have been paid off to the number of 44. The Commissioners have sent a reply to the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, accepting the offer to supply labor. The Railway seryanfs at Woodville have instructed the officers of the Railway Union of their desire that the Union should break off from the Maritime Council, or otherwise they must leave the Union.

The Waihora came alongside the wharf (his morning, after lying in the stream for some hours. Heavy rain was falling at the time, and there was no demonstration. Little cargo is offering, as few carts are available to take it down.

The postal department has arranged with coach proprietors at Woodville to run a continuous through mail service, night and day, between Napier, Wanganui, Woodville, and Wellington, via Wairarapa, in the event of a railway strike.

The Union Company’s steamers Wanaka, for Lyttelton, and Penguin, for Manukau and Taranaki, got away. Captain Norstrum, of the Grafton, and Captain Phillips, late of the Pukaki, went as officers on the Wanaka, while Captain Grant, of the Takapuna, and Captain Lambert, of the Wareta, filled the vacancies on the Penguin. Both vessels are manned by nonunion crews, and the Company received necessary cooks and stewards to nil the places of those who today were called out. A large number of Maoris have offered their services to the Company

to discharge and load their vessels. A number of High School boys bare been engaged lumping on the wharves.

The Doric got away from Port Chalmers with 7,000 carcases of mutton, but wool and other goods had to be left behind. The Government railways have about ten weeks’ supply of coal on hand.

Napier, last night. At a special meeeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon a resolution was passed expressing regret at the present state of affairs, and sympathy with the Union Company, pledging to co-operata wi h other Chambers in endeavouring to bring about a settlement. It was also decided to call a meeting of employers for tomorrow, to consider the best means of removing the present paralysis in trade, and freeing labor from the terrorism exercised by Unions.

The Waihora was tendered yesterday by the Ahuriri, manned by volunteers, under command of Captain Tonkin. The luggage and cargo was handled by clerks and others, while Mr J. Vigor Brown acted as stoker. A large meeting of Unionists was held at the theatre last night. About 200 or 300 marched from the Spit, headed by a band of bagpipes. The building was crowded, and a good many ladies were in the dress circle. Mr B. B. Creagh occupied the chair. The mee'ing was very enthusiastic, the speakers, all of whom were much applauded, including Messrs Hornsby, T. M. Murphy, M. J. Gannon (Poverty Bay), Spiller, Strndwich, and Ramsay. R'solutions were passed unanimously, expressing sympathy with the men involved in the present, labor trouble, deprecating the conduct of those desirous of crushing the spirit of Unionism, and recording the satisfaction cf the meeting at the attitude of the Maritime Council. The meeting also pledged itself to give the Maritime Council and Unions the fullest support, both morally and financially. A subscription list was opened in aid of the strike fund, and £l5 was collected in the room.

Louis Dean, who took charge of the launch Aburiri during Captain Tonkin’s illness, hrs been expelled from the Wharf Laborer,.' Union. He keeps a small store, arid ths members pledge themselves not to deal with him in any way, nor to speak to him. Threats of personal violence to Dean having been made. Tonkins, in defiance of doctor's orders, got up and took charge of ths Ahuriri while tendering the Waihora. Wellington, laat night. The. merchants and employers have resolved to carry on irrespective of the Unions.

The directors of the Gear Meat Company have deci led to continue to supply ths Union Company's steamers with meat at ell hazards. Government have declined to interfere, and will maintain a neutral policy.

Lyttzlton, laat night. The Union Bank's clerks loaded the Oolae, The Jubilee arrived this afternoon. Union men went aboard to work the cargo. A third batch nt permanent hands, inolud. ing tally clerks, storemen, and others who were workiug at the Tekapo, were nailed our. One stayed. Clerks and farm hands are now working in the trucks.

On the arrival of the Jubilee platelayers from Ohristqburcb ware put into the trucks by the station-master. They were at ones called out by the Union officers, and they came out at once, and others of the Wharf Laborers* Union took their places. Dunedin, last night The Manapouri arrived at 8 o'clock. The officers, seamen, firemen, cooks, ‘trimmers, and stewards immediately went ashore. Discharging commenced without delay. The Labor party are still drawing the boycott more tightly round the Company. It was resolved, by 44 to 1, that the cooks and stewards should come out on strike. Cablegrams and telegrams were received from vessels in all Australian ports, and almost all were in favor of coming out. Mr Justice Williams, and Sir Robert Stout have consented to act with the Mayor in trying to effect a settlement of the dispute. At a meeting of the Butchers’ Union it was resolved to give the contractor for supplying meat to the Uoion Company 24 hours’ notice that all botchers wi'l refrain from handling any meat for the Company’s boats. Invebcaboill, last night, The Te Anau has got away for Melbourne, Fleming and Gilkinson have stopped night shifts in the roller mills, which have been running night and day since, erected a Want of an outlet for. the surplus produce of the mills through tho strike, and an uneasy feeling among local vendors, who are limiting stock, is the cause of the stoppage. Westport, last night. The Master Bakers' Union have fixed the mininum wholesale price of bread at 5 JI. A contract for the year’s supply to the Old Men's Home was tendered for at that sum, but it was declined, and they will probably bake their own bread.

A local butcher is being boycotted for satiating the Uuion boats to coal. The seamen paid off from the Mahinapua left by the Charles Edward last night for Wellington. The Naval Band played them to the wharf, where large crowds assembled. Everything is quiet,