Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/732

 IABOUI4 TROUBLES IN NEW ZEALAND Tot't;H the labour troubles which began last year in New Zealaud were insignificant when compared with those in Aus- tralia, yet a short account of them may be of interest. It will be convenient to date the commencement of the struggle fxm the attack made on Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, limited Company doing a large business in stationery all over the olouy; but for some time previous to this there were not wanting sigqs that the Unions, encouraged by the success of the dockers' strike in London, were pursuing a course of action which must sooner or later produce a conflict with the employers. This Whitcombe and Tombs episode is particularly interesting as an instance of an attempt to enforce the complete boycott; but it must not be confused with the actual strike which took place in September, with which it had no direct connection; though the want of capability shown by the leaders of the Unious during this dispute, and the recklessness displayed by them in their attempt to stop the whole trade of the colony 'for such comparatively trivial matter, pointed to the probability of their defeat in the strike that followed. Shortly before the commencement of this dispute several em- ployers ha.3 from time to time acquiesced in demands made by the Unions, which were then in process of federation, and, as these demands were either reasonable or of minor importance, little or no resistance was made. Early in ]}farch, 1890, the Typographical Association requested XVhitcombe and Tombs to adopt a certain scale of wages; to none but Union hands; and lastly (and this was the point on which the dispute afterwards turned) to cease employing bqrls as compositors, or else to place them on the same footing as the men as regards work and wages. This request was met with -z; 'most uncompromising regusal by the managing director,