280 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



labour. The history of this part of the movement scarcely touches 

 Victoria, but it turned New South Wales and Queensland into a 

 field of guerilla warfare for two shearing seasons, and it so cowed 

 the squatters that a large number of them succumbed to the de- 

 mands of the unionists and refused employment to free labour in 

 any form. The successes were much paraded, the solidarity of 

 labour was acclaimed as a noble addition to the list of virtues, 

 and in labour circles a belief rapidly grew, that if only the Unions 

 were loyal to each other, they could soon transform the employer 

 into the suppliant, and themselves into the arbiters of his destiny. 

 In July, 1890, an incident occurred in Melbourne which kindled 

 the strike into local activity, but before the movement was well 

 started, one of the labour leaders incautiously admitted that they 

 had been preparing for a fight for the last two years by perfecting 

 their organisation and accumulating funds. The captain of a 

 coasting steamer called the Corinna had occasion in the course of 

 business to discharge a fireman named Magan. It chanced that he 

 was a delegate of the Seamen's Union, and that body complained 

 to the shipowners that the man had been the victim of persecution 

 by the chief steward, whose immediate dismissal they demanded. 

 This was refused, but the Cooks and Stewards' Union took up the 

 matter on their own account, held a formal inquiry and decided 

 that the allegation against the chief steward was not sustained. 

 The Seamen's Union then returned to the charge, with a peremp- 

 tory demand for the reinstatement of Magan within twenty-four 

 hours, failing which the entire crew of the steamer would be called 

 out. Protests from the ship's agents led to some delay, but in a 

 few weeks the crew of the Corinna, acting under orders, gave 

 notice, were paid off, and the vessel laid up. The Melbourne 

 branch of the Seamen's Union then passed a resolution, that no 

 crew should be shipped for any vessel which the master of the 

 Corinna might command. By the 18th of August the excitement 

 connected with this episode was thrown into the shade by a general 

 strike of the Marine Officers' Association. It had been brought 

 about by the ordinary causes which led to strikes a desire to 

 secure better pay and shorter hours of labour. Noting the success 

 which association had secured for many labour unions, the marine 



