BRISBANE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1355, 5 February 1912, Page 6

BRISBANE STRIKE.

FURTHER EXTENSION. THREAT TO CALL ON WORKERS THROUGH STATE. A THOUSAND SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Uy TelccraDh—Presi Association—CooyriEßl (Kec. February 5, 0.5 a.m.) Brisbane, February 4. The strike threatens to spread. At a meeting at Towusville representatives of all workers affiliated with Iho Australian Workers' Union decided to cease '.vork ill sympathy with tho Brisbano strikers. Tlio men affected include the miners at Charters Towers, Rainswood, Cloneurry, Hcrberton, ,'ind Chillagoe, the watersiJo workers at Townsville, Muckay, Boweu, and Cairns, and also tho sugar, meat, find timber workers. This extension of the strike will take placo on Monday if the call conies, the Strike Committee having instructed the men to hold themselves in readiness.

A QUIET DAY. POLICE KEEP CROWDS MOVING. GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION. -.(Rec. February 5, 0.5 a.m.) Brisbane, February 5. There has been another quiet day in connection with tho strike to-day. The city was thronged on Saturday night, and the Socialist rod ribbon was much in evidence. The police, on foot and mounted, were everywhere in strong force and kept the people moving. Wherever tho nucleus of a crowd was formed it was quickly broken up. Over two thousand special constables have been oiirolled, but so far their- services have not boon largely utilised. • Vigilance committees have been formed in various parts of the city. The State. Governor, Lord Chelmsford, has issued a proclamation calling on lawabiding citizens to desist from participating in unlawful assemblies and calling them to assist in preserving law and order. The Government has snspended part of the Factories and Shops Act relating to early closing, thus enabling shopkeepers to sell at any hour of the day or night. The suburban train service was entirely suspended to-day. The Railway Department advise that there has been no general strike at the Ipswich Railway Shops, only - fourteen foremen and fifty-one men out of 1400 having absented themselves from duty. The Premier (Mr. Denham) has refused a further request to allow processions in the city. Two men were charged in connection with Saturday's trouble. One was fined £5 and the other- was remanded. ARBITRATION REFUSED. . UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL TO FEDERAL COURT. ' (Rec. February 5, 0.5 a.m.) : Melbourne, February 5. An application on behalf of the Tramways Employees' Association ha-s been made to the Federal Arbitration Court with a view to summoning a compulsory conference between''the disputants in the Queensland strike. Mr. Justice Higgins, President of the Court, refused the application, on the ground that there was no evidence that the dispute was one extending, or likely to extend, beyond Queensland. Leave was given to renew the application ,if. further material .were forthcoming to establish - the claim; EFFECT ON' SHIPPING. VESSELS UNABLE TO LEAVE FORT. (Rec. February 5, 0.5 a.m.) Brisbane, February 5. ' The 'steamers Aramac and Arawata were unable to leave port on Saturday owing to the strike. The Pilbarra, from Sydney, landed her passengers, but did not come up the river. The Burwah, from north, did not call at Brisbane, and -is proceeding direct to Sydney. (Rec. February 5, 0.5 a.m.) Sydney, February 5. The steamers left as usual on Saturday for Brisbane and other Queensland ports, taking only passengers-and no cargo.

EFFORTS AT SETTLEMENT. SOME SHOPS REOPEN. . By Telecrach—Prc3s Association—Conyrichli Brisbane, February 3. It is nnnoured that a number of influential people, including Archbishop Donaldson, are endeavouring to arrange a settlement. The Premier states that negotiations are pending, but nothing definite has yet been arranged. Tho Home Secretary (the Hon. J. A. Appsl) has announced that mass meetings in the streets or squares will no longer be tolerated, and that good order must be maintained. As a result. of the vigilance of the police a numbor of shops reopened last night. A few buses are plying for passengers. Tho strike committee is landing active assistance to the police in keeping order, and has appointed a number of officials, who are wearing white bands. NO COERCION LAWS, STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER, Brisbane, February 3. Tlib Premier informed the deputation of Labour members, who asked him to call Parliament together to consider the question of purchasing tramways . and other matters connected with tho strike that, bo had no intention of calling Parliament together in order to seek coexciTo powers. There was sufficient power in the Statuto Book, to secure the restoration of law and order, and he intended to use it. POLICE AND STRIKERS. LITTLE DAMAGE. REPORTED. Biisbane, February 3. Later reports to some extent minimise the strikers' part in yesterday's disturbance, o.nd show that tho trouble was the ontcomo of a determination on the part of the authorities to assert their power to maintain law and order. Previously tho police were not strortS enough to keep tho crowds strictly in order, but largo accessions to their force, with the addition of hundreds of special constables, placed the Go\-ernment in a position to take firmer action. Tho Premier gave tho Commifrsioncr of Police a free hand to deal with tho situation. Tho police did tho work of clearing the streets well and effectually, and on the whole tactfully. Considering the many brushi*? with the strikers there was very little damage done, with the exception of a few broken heads and minor ['injuries.

Tho strikers were surprised at tho change of tactics, end resented ■ being hustled from pillar to post, but, except in a fow instances did not attempt anything liko retaliatory violence. There wore isolated instances of the use of sticks and stones, but the strikers as a, body claim that any real resistance that did occur, was caused by a small section of the rowdy clement; RAILWAYMEN GO OUT. Brisbane, February 3. The Railway Department discontinues all night (rains. A further batch of employees resumed work, while on the other hand 1300 men employed in tho Ipswich railway shops responded to- the call to go out. FLOUR DEPOTS. Brisbane, February 3. As the master bakers have been deserted by their employees and are unable to supply the demand for bread and flour, tho Government has decided to open a depot for the supply of flour at cost price. MILITARY AID SOLGHT AND REFUSED. (Rec. February I, 5.5 p.m.) Brisbane, February 4. The position was quiet yesterday, no attempt being made to hold a procession. Many shops, including butchers, were open and did a brisk trade. The meat was taken from the slaughterhouses to shops and sold under police protection. « Brisbane, February 3. The Premier states that- he has applied to the Commonwealth Government for military aid if it is found necessai. but no reply has been received. MILITARY AID REFUSED. (Rec. February i, 5.5 p.m.) Brisbane, February. 4. A reply received 'through the Governor ; General to- the Government's application for military aid states that while tho Commonwealth Government is prepared to fulfil its obligations to States : . r the' occasion arises it does not nduiit the right of any to call for assistance under, circumstances which should properly .be. dealt with by. the police forces of the State. Tho condition of-affairs in the opinion of the Federal .Ministers' did not warrant the request being complied with. PREPARED TO OBEY. Brisbane, February 3. According to advices received by tho union leaders traniwaymcn in the southern capitals are prepared to obey the call if asked. ORSOVA GOES TO BRISBANE. Sydney, February 3. The Orient Company last night was informed that a pilot was available at Brisbane, and' it therefore decided to dispatch tho Orsov'a tn'-day, The steamer lands, passengero only. ■ ■ ■