VICTORIAN RAIL STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 25 October 1946, Page 5

VICTORIAN RAIL STRIKE

MODERATE UNIONISTS CRITICAL Received Fridav, 1 ".5(1 a.m. MELBO'URXE, Oct. 24. Xo settleineut of the Victorian tram aml truin strike is likely hefore next week. Persistent efforts wero made l)y •striker.s' pu-kets today to involve Ihe drivers of privatelv owned bus servu-es. 1 a some casOK violence was tlireatened liut onlv in a few instances were tiie taclics successful. Some owners oi >iiialler lines of buses whicli have been extiMKlnig their services eitywnnls, have u it lxlrauii to their liormal outer siihnrhan rotiles, hut the prineipal l»us lines are cont i uuino their eniergetu- v services. The Motor Transport I'nion iias reilerated its onler to memliers tliat they liiusl continue work until instructed olherwise. The uaioii exectitive 18 A rough' ailhering lo its poliey tliat ui dusfrial dispnles intist. be coiidueted bv the Trades iitill Ooiiucil dispnles comnul t ee. M r. fhitiey, wlio flew lo .Melbonrne yeslerday, eonferred willi I lie J'remier, .\lr. Oain, today, but no develupments resulted from the discussions. The Trades II u 11 disputes coinmittee nieethig toni»hl. Iias tlie si rong siipport of many uniotis which are averse to being' broiiglit into ihe strike and which .-trongly desire control of the strike being laken froni Alr. ,f. .1. Brown, the Fnmiutinist secretary of the Kailways' t niori. Many moderate union otticials are oiitspokenly eritical of the. strikers' tnet liods and fear they will result. iti ft -erious splitting of the trades union loovement . Tho strikers are tiow trving to tie up nmtor transport by asking the drivers of petro] deliverv waggons to i-easo work. These drivers, who are the permanent employees of major oil conipanies, are remaining at work and apfiear unlikely to yieid to the strikers' persnasions. By means of private cars, buses and emergeney transport, stalf attendanees at most businesses are nearly 100 per eent. Alost businesses are rlosing on Satunlav niorning, tlius easing the weekend transport problem. Xo aetual violence is yet reported, but in one sulmrb thousands of nails strewu on the roadway were promptly swejit ti}> by Cotineil eni})Ioyees. The propagaiula line used bv the strikers against passengers on emergeney transjiort, is tliat the railway and tramwaymen are lighting a battle ror better ;undithms fo-'r all unionists and therefore are entitJud ,to sap pori-, but' sb; far it has been unsynipatlieticallv reeeived. Has rulioning begaii at nildnight on Wednesduy, lmt it was announeed today tliat Ihe watersidwsr would resumo on Friday on all idle ships, incltuling the colliers awailing discharge. Tho gas will be restored wlten suliicient coal is ttnloaded.