THE GREAT STRIKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 506, 13 September 1890, Page 2

THE GREAT STRIKE.

[by electbio telegraph—special to STANDARD.] AUCKLAND. Last night. The carters and expressmen returned to work to-day, and unconditionally. Additional barricades have been erected on Queen Street wharf to keep back the crowd. The steamers Manapouri and Southern Cross are both discharging with free labor, of which there is plenty available. The Northern Company’s officers waited on the manager to-day, and expressed their willingness to return to duty.

The steamer Kahu has arrived from the south with a cargo of produce, and is being discharged by Unionists. The men discharging the brigantine Sarah Pile struck to-day because nonunion carters were employed. The strikers were easily replaced. A message from Onehunga stated that things at that port were very quiet. No work was doing on the wharves. The steamers in port are the Orowaili and the Northern Company’s Glenelg and Gairloch. NAPIER. Last night. At a meeting of the Working Men’s Association resolutions were carried unanimously, condemning as tyrranicaland unjust the dismissal of railway servants at Christchurch, and calling upon the authorities to re-instate them forthwith.

The weather was too rough to work the Star of Victoria yesterday. The steamer will take twenty free laborers from here to coal her in Wellington, from the cargo which the Bayley is bringing over. At a .meeting of the Association of Employers and Free Workmen, Mr Nelson, President, said that in the six days which had elapsed since its formation 138 employers and 419 workmen had joined, all being pledged to keep open the trade of the port. Many country settlers-were present, and after the meeting was over twenty new subscribing members joined, and was added to the guarantee fund, thus making it over the to,ooo asked for. Many Unionists belong to the Association, but most Unionists, on joining, resign from the Unions.

WELLINGTON. Last night. Strike matters are quiet here to-day. Notice has been served on 400 residents to serve as special constables, and of these 230 were being sworn in this afternoon. At the usual parade of the Wellington Naval Brigade, Captain Duncan, under instructions from headquarters, informed the men that they must hold themselves in readiness for service, if necessary, during the present labor difficulty. Other companies will, it is understood, be similarly informed. A scene occurred near the wharf at five o’clock last evening, when several of the nonunion laborers who had just finished their day’s work, were jostled by a large crowd that had congregated. At first only hooting was indulged in, but the row gradually got more serious. Several of the nonunionists were molested, and there was a.little stone-throwing. Mr D. P. Fisher, President of the Maritime Council, in an interview with a Times representative, said the two parties in Australia should bs compelled to settle their difficulties within a given time, and failing their doing so the shipowners and Unions in New Zealand should secede from the other colonies. New Zealand has nothing to complain of, and all that is wanted is to revert to the previous condition of things. The Council, he says, are quite willing to withdraw, and if the Union Company would not employeis and employees should combine to force them to do it.

Several employers, being interviewed, said Unionists must abandon the rule forbidding members of Unions working alongside nonunion labor, and in all cases employers will resist coercion among workmen. When the House assembled this morning, Mr T. McKenzie drew the attention of Government to the recent attacks made upon nonunion laborers, which he characterised as a disgrace to a free city. In reply Captain Russefl said he believed steps would be taken by the proper authorities to maintain the peace in Wellington.

Special constables were being sworn in to-day, and an efficient force provided to protect the nonunion labor of the port. An unfortunate affair happened on board the Union Company’s steamer Australia yesterday afternoon. It appears that a young man named W. H. Gerard, who had been working ashore, went on board the vessel, and, it is alleged, used insulting language to a young man named Robert S. Allan, who was working near the hatch. He told Gerard to leave, but the latter declined, and Allen shoved him. Gerard staggered a foot or two. and striking the combing of the hatch, was precipitated down the hold. The injured man was taken to the hospital, suffering from a severe scalp wound, and it is feared that a couple of ribs are broken. Gerard is suffering from injury to the spine, and he is in a precarious condition. Allen states he was struck first, and only acted in self-defence. He was brought up at the Magistrate's Court this morning, and remanded, PI CTO N. Last night. As far as Pioton is concerned the strike may be doneidered almost ended. On Wednesday to meet a probable refusal to work the Grafton the Union Company’s agent took down nonunion labor, and got the boat away next morning. Before he left Pieton last night eight Unionise waited on him, and of their own free yi 1 gave him a signed agreement throwing off allegiance to the’ Maritime Oounoll, and others said they were willing to do the same. They will be tested to-morrow when the Kanieri comes in.

At nine yesterday morning the Maritime Council called . out tl.is railway employees, but they refused to recognise ths call.

LYTTELTON. Last nigh’, Mr Beelhnm swore in 102 special constables at Lyttelton last evening. They represent all classes except lawyers, clergymen, and reporters. Mr Bsetbam and the Mayor cf Lyttelton addressed them, saying they ware sworn in merely as a precautionary measure, and it was not probable their services wou’d ba required. Mr Beeiham said. they Lad nothing to do with either labor or capital. A mass meeting is called for to.n'ght by the Trades and Labor Council, to consider the action of the Bail way Commissioners in dismissing numbers of the Bailway Society's Executive.

A large meeting of sattway servants was held last night to consider the action of ths Commioeioners in dismissing members of the Executive. The speeches were moderate in tone, but the men declare they are determined to have their comrades reinstated. The following motion was passed unanimously, with enthusiasm, “ That in the opinion of this meeting the resolutions moved at a meetjpg of railway men on September third amount simply to a discussion of bonafide grievances, inasmuch as the Commissioners took men from their legitimate work, and forced them to work a. blatfilegs ;n Lyttelton, and that the artion of the Commissioner in discharging fottr of tljia Exeoylivc Officers

tantamount to a repression of the right of free speech.” At a special meeting of the Harbor Board this morning the Chairman was authorised to appoint extra nightwatchmen on the wharves. The whole of the Board’s etaff, numbering forty, have been appointed special constables to be sworn in should any emergency arise.

Tha newly formed Employers’ Association elected Mr G. T. Booth President, Mr G. G. Stead Vice-President, and appointed Mr B. Allan (formerly of Lighiband Allan and Co.) Secretary. DUNEDIN. Last night. A meeting of over 70 of the officers was held, al which a scheme for the promoting of a co-operative steamship company was discussed, and favorably entertained. The action of two officers, who were alleged to have made overtures for appointment under the Association, and are now employed by the Union Company, was discussed with a great deal of warmth.

A large crowd of Unionists followed the nonunion men coming from the wharf yesterday afternoon, but there was no hooting or demonstration, the followers apparently only desiring to see who the men were. At an adjourned meeting of the Employers’ Association a constitution was drawn up, and was after some discussion adopted, but the appointment of directors was delayed till th ' Association is fully constituted. The Association ia to be called the Otago and Southland Employers’ Association, and all employeie ate invited to join.

THE NEW ZEALAND JOHN BURNS

There is naturally enough a good deal of interest attaching to the personality of the man who is invests! with such weighty responsibilities as Secretary of the Maritime Council of New Zealand (writes a correspondent). Mr J. A. Millar, as some peop'e seem to think, does not direct or control the operations of the Council. He understands from that body the general line of action that has been decided on, but circumstances frequently arise of an exceptional and entirely unexpected character, not calculated on in the deliberations of the Council. Prompt and decisive action at such a time is of the first importance, there is no time for deliberation or thought; and it is on such occasions that the cool ho id and resourceful mind of Mr Millar come into prominence. The opportunity, it Is said, always provides the man, and it is generally conceded that the present calamitous one has brought the man along with it. Mr Millar is a young man, about two and three and th’rty, has been and is still, a seaman, and can, therefore, understand and enter warrn’y into the fight which is now being waged by his brother “salts” against the .hipowners. He first came into prominence during the dispute with the Shag Point colliery-owners. Hia correspondence with the members of that firm, conducted with a dignified courtesy and independence, as well as ability, not common to men of his class, very favorably impressed the public on his behalf, and made him the recipient of innumerable complimentary notices in the Pre’e. But neither the ex'raordinary authority which his position gives him nor the notice which he has attracted has succeeded in turning hie head or making him appear anything Otherwise than what he really is—a very courteous and modest man, conciliatory and obliging, and fully Impressed with the responsibilities of his position. He is also very fair, with a genuine belief in the justice of the demands now being put forward by the labor party; and I have heard him on more than one occasion recently warm up an audience of working men to a very fine pitch cf enthusiasm. But he is, above all things, practical and endowed with a good deal of eommonsense, and I should say not the kind of man that would imperil or injure the cause of the party he so very creditably represents. However, he is yet only at the beginning of his troubles, and there is probably a time coming that will put ail his caution and foresight to the test. IMPORTS. Per Southern Cross—ll pkgs, Clayton and Sawyer; 1 box, Parnell and Co.; 1 case, Wingate, Burns and Co.; 3 pkgs, Brown and Smaill; 23 pkgs, Pitt and Maguire; 27 pkgs, Whitby and Partington ; 20 octaves, Dunlop and Bcurke; 13 pkgs, Teat and Friar; 61 pkgs, lease tobacco, Common, Shelton and Co ; 1 pkg, Adams; I box, Graham, Pitt and Bennett; 16 pkgs. Sheen; 2 cases vestas, order; 4 pkgs, Nelson Bros.; quantity samples, Best. Per Manapouri—l pkg, W. Morgan; 20 sacks oatmeal, orders ; 1 case fish, Holford ; 1 pel, Colebrook; 1 halo wool pockets, L. and M. A. Co.; 1 case, Crawford ; 1 case, Hennessy ; 1 pcl.Breingan; 16 pkgs, Quong Kee; 1 pkg samples, Best; lease, U.S.S. Co. EXPORTS. PerSouthernCross—26 bags maize; 2J sacks onions, Clayton and Sawyer; 24 empty cases, Bowron Bros. ; 40 bags potatoes, Whitby and Partinston ; 90 sacks potatoes, Johnston ; 1 case, Townley; 3 kilds, Crawford ; 2 pkgs, Common, Shelton and Co.; 1 drum, 1 keg, F. Hall. Per Manapouri—l horse. Harper; 1 truss, Pottie and Harper ; 24 sacks maize, U.S.S. Up.; 240 sacks barley, 148 sacks maize, Common, Shelton and Co.; 15 sacks onions, Orr; 35 sacks onions, L. and M. A. Co.