GENERAL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1352, 1 February 1912, Page 5

GENERAL STRIKE.

BRISBANE TRAMS STOPPED, EFFORTS OF MINISTERS. ORDER WELL MAINTAINED. By Toleerapli—Preas Association—OopyrlEtot Sydney, January 31. The Brisbane trams stopped running early last night and will not run to-day. Shortly before six o'clock last night an order was issued closing tho hotels, which aro not open to-day. Everything is being done to maintain law and order. Arrangements have been made for the bread and milk supplies to go on uninterrupted, though there will' be no delivery of bread, as the carters arc participating in the strike. FUNDS COMING IN FREELY. A number of meetings are to be held during tho day. A big gathering last night was addressed by Mr. Coyne, a member of the Assembly, and President of the Australian Labour Federation, and other leaders. Mr. Coyne declared tliat the men intended to fight to a finish. Ho appealed to tho strikers to preserve tho strictest discipline, keep sober, and preserve order, lie declared that this was going to bo a big business. Those who could not see its magnitude now would see it in a week or two. Hβ announced that funds were already coming in freely. To-day cables would bo dispatched all over the civilised world' on behalf of tho strikers. A monster demonstration is being arranged for to-day. SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Tho Police Department is receiving hundreds of applications from men willing to servo as special constables. Tho Premier (tho Hon. Mr. Denham) and the Commissioner of Railways hurriedly returned from Sydney, where they have been visiting. The Ministers nro working , hard in the interests of a settlement, and are leaving no, stone unturned to eeeuie peace and good order. Tho police Teport states that the men's behaviour so far has been excellent. DEFECTIONS LIKELY. The strikers' executive is extremely busy and is sitting continuously. It is expected' that some employees were strongly opposed to a general strike, and that defections are likely. To-day will disclose tho full effect of the call oitf , , and the extent to which the ukase, has been obeyed. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. Indications are that the trouble may spread to the railways. At a meeting of tho Railway Employees' Association, held Ir.te last night, at which 500 attended, it was resolved that all members of the association, or any other employees who choose, may cease work today. Tho association includes all gradea of railway men and a number of signalmen. It iB stated that the executive of the Railway Men's Association refused to endorse the resolution in favour of the strike, but the men intend to leave work to-day in spite of tho executive. HOUSEHOLDERS BUSY. All the public entertainments ■ have closed excepting one. . Tho newspapers are in a serious position, tho compositors having largely thrown in their lot with the strikers. Householders aro everywhere busy laying in stocks against a threatened siege. It is reported that during yesterday one firm sold over ,£3OO worth, of revolvers. RED RIBBONS. The gas and electric supplies so far have "not been interfered with, and the companies anticipate no trouble. A number of vessels have been left partially loaded. In somo cases the men's notices do not expiro till 8 this morning. Many ■of the strikers are wearing red ribbons. PARTIAL RAILWAY STRIKE.

• (Rec. January 31, 10.10 p.m.) Brisbane, January 31. Owing to a call out by the Typographical Union, all tho newspapere excepting the "Daily Telegraph," which is a nonunion office, have been greatly reduced in

So far 200 railway men have joined the strikers. The majority of the porters on the city and suburban stations, and numbers of signa l men absented themselves from duty, and left the signals at "Line clear." Instructions jve're immediately issued to 6tatibnmasters to take extra precautions for the safety of tho. travelling public. As a ircsult of the defections, tho passenger service has teen reduced to fit the depleted staffs. The engine-drivers, firemen, and guards remained loyal, but it h feared that unless there is an early settlement, the whole service will bo dislocated. Excepting the railways, . all transport traffic is practically at a standstill.

MONSTER PROCESSION. There was a groat gathering of strikers at the Trades Hall this morning prior to a monster procesfiou. Stirring and confident speeches were delivered by tho leaders, advocating firmness and peace. Tho procession was headed by four mounted police and sixty cycling strikers. The police, largely reinforced from country districts, lined the route. The newspaper office and shops whero members of tho Shop Employees' Union, which declinol to join the strike, were employed came in for hostile demonstrations, otherwise the demonstration was orderly. Socialistic red ribbon was largely in evidence among the processionists. A big enwd watched tho procession and cheered.

AN ALARMING SITUATION. BUSINESS PARALYSED. (Roc. January 31, 11.20 p.m.) ' Sydney, January 31. Mr. Finlayson, member for Brisbane in the Federal Ilouse, has telegraphed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, that nothing can be done to summon a. compulsory confereiiive. Tho situation is rapidly becoming alarming. The city is excited, and business is paralysed. Serious trouble is easily possible Mr, Fishor, in commenting on tho message, said he was sorry that a striko had been found necessary. His Opinion was that there should never have been one. OFFER BY THE COMPANY. REFUSED BY THE MEN. (Rec. January 31, 11.20 p.m.) Brisbane, January 31. Cabinet has hnd lengthy meetings to consider the positiou, and negotiations with the Tramway Company mid the striko leaders arc slill progressing. Mr. Bowman, Leader of the Opposition, has announced that the coaipnny Is prepared to take back toe eiuployoca and

I allow t.liem to wear badges, bid will not recognise tho union. This is unacceptable, to the nipn, who insist on the recognition of the union. Throe hundred railway men aro out. Tho Minister for Railways has given tho iiwn till noon on Frwiny to resume. Failing this ho will fill ilioir places. 'i'lto Minister declares (hat ho will bo able to lnniutniii a. fairly satisfactory service "ORDER AT ANY COST." FORCE OF CONSTABLES SWORN IN. BUTCHERS' SHOPS CLOSED. (Hoc. February 1, 1 a.m.) Brisbane, January 31. Tho butchers' shops have closed. Two of the strike leaders asked the Commissioner of Police to close the hotels during the trouble. The Commissioner thought it premature to closes but if it we're found necessary he would do so. Numbers of hotels voluntarily closed, chiefly owing to the employees joining tho strikers. The Premier, in an interview, said the Government had done all that was po.«sible to .arrange a settlement, but had failed. They would maintain order at any cost. With this object the polico had been augmented, and a large body of special constables sworn in. The Licensed Victuallers' Association had asked him to closo nil the hotels and wineshops, and ho had issued an order that in the event of lawlessness this would be done, and it would apply both to the city and the suburbs.