THOUSANDS IDLE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 7

THOUSANDS IDLE

Effect Of Strikes In Queensland

POWER AND LIGHT CUTS (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, June 27 With drastic cuts in power and Ugnt under the emergency measures proclaimed by the Government last, night for the first time in Queensland s history, Brisbane tef-day was a city or gloom. Most of the stores and offices were in semi-darkness with workers struggling to do jobs by the aid of hurricane and carbide lamps ana Ca The C use of power and gas in homes is limited to an hour and a half each day. Only one light is permitted, and it must go out at 9 p.m. Thousands of workers already have been paid off by industries because of the power cuts, and if the strike continues another week it is anticipated that 100,000 will be affected. Restricted transport services are taxed to bring workers into the city. Trams cease running at 7 p.m. ana trains at 9.30 p.m. All amusement places close at night. The meat workers, who are me cause of the strike, and the coal miners and waterside workers, who are out in sympathy, have rejected terms for a settlement of the dispute. The meat strike, which is in its 13th week, has held up the shipment of more than 30,000 tons of beef to Britain. j In Canberra, the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) announced that the Queensland dispute was one entirely for the State Government and that the Federal Government did not propose to interfere. The situation became desperate when 2000 Queensland miners struck on June 12 and 3500 on June 19 in sympathy with the 6000 meat workers who walked out of their jobs on March 6 after four men were dismissed from the Murrarie bacon factory. The disputes committee of the Com-munist-dominated Brisbane Labour Council has taken control of the strike and so far it has rejected all offers of settlement. The unions’ terms will be submitted to-morrow to a mass meeting of unionists concerned. With 7420 tons of coal lost to-day in New South Wales by strikes, time off for funerals and one breakdown, which immobilised eight collieries, the Minister of Local Government (Mr J. J. Cahill) is considering the advisability of imposing more power rationing. The output loss for the week now stands at 23,020 tons, against which the present restrictions, in Sydney have saved 1600 tons. No major power authority has yet asked for additional rationing, but several have told the Minister that the position is critical. It is still not certain whether the railwaymen will agree to man the trains on Saturday afternoon.