NEWS OF THE WEEK.
HE Strike is not over yet, the Dock Companies holding T
out against the demand of the men for an extra penny an hour ; but it is decaying in strength. The subscriptions have been liberal, especially one of £4,000 from Australia; but even the food of an army costs thousands a day, and it is an army which is out of work. The men, therefore, are sorely distressed, and but for incessant promises from their leaders, would probably accept the terms offered by the Companies, which are, briefly, the substitution of piecework for contract work as soon as arrangements can be made, and a promise that no man shall be taken on for less than four hours. These are not liberal terms, as the section of the wharfingers headed by fir. bafone have granted the 6d.—though deducting the dinner half-hour from paid-for time—and have abolished sub-contracts at once. The strikers have accordingly with- drawn their ban from the wharfingers, and some thousands of men are working on the wharves. The shipowners, moreover, affirm, through Sir Donald Currie, that, if they are allowed to load and unload for themselves, they will, among other improvements, be able to pay the men's terms. The Dock Directors-are listening to this last proposal, but seem, as yet, determined to settle nothing until the men return to work. The strike, they believe, will not hurt their shareholders, as the vessels must be unloaded in the end, and the docks do not pay for the delay. As yet, though there has been some intimidation, the men have remained orderly, though displaying a certain hatred of Mr. Norwood, the chairman of the Dock Committee, who, though rather irritating in his demeanour, probably regards himself as a trustee.
