Victorian Transport Strike

Chronicle (Levin), 26 October 1946, Page 5

Victorian Transport Strike

Press Assn.-

DESPERATE SITUATION 100MS

By Telegraph

Copyiignt

Received Friday, 11.40 p.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 25. Following a decision at a stormy meeting last night when the Trades Hall' Council decided to take over eonduct of the rail and trani strike, lead* ers of the striking unions today aecepted the decision but no early end of the dispute can be forecast yet. On the other hand, present indieations are for an extension. Complications arose today when water siders who had been called to1 work by their union executives, held a niass meeting at which they decided they would not use black transport and would not resume until train transport was available. This means that the city's gas supply which at present is drasticallv rationed, ceases entirely by Tuesday though 10,000 tons of coal are at the wharf in colliers awaiting unloading. The city is also viewing apprehensively a meeting being held to night at the huge Yallourn electricity powerhouse where a strike motion is -being discusseil by the engine drivers. "The shutdown of Yallourn would completely paralyse a large area of A'ictoria including Melbourne, as Yallourn is the principal source of electricity supply. Tlie strike of iromvorlcers became effective today vvlieh 90 Melbourne fouuilries were idle. Cessation at the foundries will affect industries relying on foundry output, early next week when about 70,000 workers in engineeriug and otlier industries, will be made idle. Regular bus services continued today but many emergency services ceased under intiinidation threats.