Nearing End Of Financial Resources

Chronicle (Levin), 23 March 1948, Page 6

Nearing End Of Financial Resources

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuisr,

Covyriaht)

JBlilfcjjtf ANE, Marcii 22. Evidence from ail over Queensland suggests that the railway strikers are nearing the end of their finaneial resources. The strike. whieh originally was expected to end in a fortnight, has now dragged on for 48 days and the families oi 20,000 railwayiuen are without proxjer food. • The strike pay, whieh started at £2 to £1 10s a week, has now. been redueed to £1. Aecording- to soeial workers, appailing misery' exists in many hotiies and thousands of children are living on no thing more than bread and jam. Essontial baby foods for infants up to fuur months old are unknown in mo.st strikers ' homes. The strikers are not eligible for Uovernment relief and have lost a tojal or £520,000 in wages since the strike started. Moderate unionists say that a secret ballot would be 90 per cent. in favour of an immediate return to work. In an effort to niediate in the strike ! leaders ot>the Australasian Council of Trade Qnions arrived in Brisbane last night and will see the Premier (Mr. Hanlon) and the dispntes eommit tee. j Leaders of the Coinmuiiist-rontro!!ei | Miners' Federation are also making a | hnsty visit to Queensland. w The fear of a geiieral eoal stnb*. re- j sulting in the almost jmiuediul. im- i mobilisation of industrv and uneinploy- j ment for 750,000 workers, is growing. j