UNIONISTS RETURNING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 8 February 1912, Page 5

UNIONISTS RETURNING.

APPLICATIONS FOR REINSTATEMENT. (Rec. February 7, 10.20 p.m.) Brisbane, February 7. It is reported that unionists in nearly all branches of trade, are applying to be reinstated and arc willing to return to work unreservedly. The Premier has announced that in all towns likely to bo affected by the strike the necessary steps havo been taken for the protection of the people. AFFRAYS IN THE NORTH. STONE-THROWING AT ROCKHAMPTON. (R«c. February 8, 0.35 a.m.) Brisbane, February 7. Reports from Rockhampton and Townsvillo report brushes between the police and the strikers, with stone-throwing and window-breaking at Rockhampton, where two persons were injured. The police j have restored order. No details arc ■available. COMPULSORY CONFERENCE, FIRST STEP TAKEN. (Hoc. February 7, 10.50 p.m.) Melbourne, February 7. The first definito step towards a compulsory conference lias been taken. The Industrial Registrar has issued summonses to the managers of the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Companies and Hie presidents and secretaries of the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Employees' Association to attend a conference on Tuesday. LIVELY MEETINC. ! OF MELBOURNE TRAMWAYMEN. STRIKE LEVY OF JIALF-A-CROWN. (Rcc. February 7, 10.10 p.m.) Melbourne, February 7. A meeting was held of the tramwaymen to air their own grievances against the company and to consider the position at Brisbane. The proceedings were lively, a strong section favoured an inimodiato strike, but the arguments of the leaders that it would serve the canso better to continue work mul provide funds for the Brisbane men, eventually prevailed. I!o----solutions were carried in favour of wailing, the result nf tho compulsory conference ordered by tho Federal Arbitration Court before coming to a decision in regard to a «lrik<?. ]» the meantime all members are to pay a strike levy of half-a-erown a week. It was reported that it is Uh> intention nf the Brisbane Tramway Company to delay the proceedings of (lie Arbitration Court by raising objections to a compulsory conference, which led to a third resolution empowering the faking of a ballot in favour of drastic action i-\ insure a. hoaiias of tho case^

during the present month, and in the event of the objection proving successful, or new objcclions being raised, calling a strike. SHIPPING RING BLAMED. (Rec. February 7, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, February 7. The executive of the Labour Council has failed in their endeavours to secure a vessel to convey food to the Brisbane strikers. They report that tho failuro is due to the pressure of the shipping ring. STEAMER WITHDRAWN. (Rec. February 7, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, February 7. The Howard Smith Company have withdrawn thoir eteamer Cooma from the Queensland trade. Amateur Wharf Hands. Brisbane, February 7. The Strike Committeo is endeavouring to involve the Western districts, and a general Australian strike is openly advocated. Business, however, is steadily resuming. . Despite the intense heat, many employers have discarded their coats and are working at the wharves and elsewhere, assisted by loyal employees. All are guarded by special constables. Motor Omnibus Company. Melbourne, February 7. Mr. Prendei'gast, president of the Victorian Tramway Employees' Association, has declared that if !he Brisbane Tramway Company defeats the union a motor omnibus company will run there, and all unionists will boycott the trams. Townsville Police Hustled, Brisbane, February 7. Two policemen at Townsville, when arresting a drunken man, were attacked by a mob of fivo hundred. The policemen drew their batons and chnrged tho mob, which dispersed. Later the mob renewed the 'attack, when an inspector app/ared. 'Iho crow.l pelted the police with stones, wounding all tho officers. The inspector drew his revolver, causing an instant scatter. New Problems for Strikers. Brisbane, February 7. The Employers' Federation, at a meeting, arrived at an understanding in the matter of presenting a new problem for promoters of strikes in the future. Tho details have not been disclosed, but the meeting determined to retain all loyal hands in defiance of the Trades Hall. Many strikers will thus be compelled, to .seek new avenues of employment. Rockhampton Strikes. Brisbane, February 7. A general strike now exists at Rockhampton. Almost all the ports as far as Rockhfmplon are affected. Federal Premier Subscribes. Melbourne, February 7. Mr. Andrew Fisher (Federal Premier) has contributed towards the strike funds. He has expressed the hope that the conference will lead to a settlement. A Compulsory Conference. Melbourne, February 7. Mr. Justice Higgins (president of the Arbitration. Court) has granted the application for a compulsory conference in connection with the Brisbano strike. The conference will be held next Tuesday, and representatives concerned have been summoned to meet in Melbourne. Begging for Funds, Brisbane, February 7. The Strike Committee has cabled to England, France, Germany, and the United States for assistance. ORIGIN OF THE TRAMWAY STRIKE. WEARING OF UNION BADGE. (By TelcEraph--Pres6 Association.) Christchurch, February 7. In view of recent happenings in Brisbane, a chat a "Press" representative had to-night with Captain 0. Svensen, of that city, is interesting, particularly as Captain Svensen only left Brisbane last Thursday. Captain Svonsen let in somo interesting light on the situation, which has not been made clear by the cables detailing the strike. The tramway men struck a week before he left Brisbane, but the other unions had not then gone out, so he could not speak of the late phases of the situation. When ho left everything was quiet; the trams were still running, (hough tin service wa-s curtailed, and there did not seem any difficulty in getting sufficient hands to run them. So far as Ihe tramway strike was concerned, it anpeared as if it was going to collapse. The cause of the strike, Captain Svensen said, was the refusal of the Tramway Company to allow the men to wear union badges. The reason of tho company's refusal was this: that only two-thirds of the men were members of the union, the remainder were nonunionists. The wearing of badges by the unionists would have differentiated tlipm from tho non-unionists, and rendered the hitler liable to endless persecution and insult from members of other Labour organisations. The result would have been nothing but lasting trouble, and many of the non-unionists would probably have been driven in selfprotection to join the union. Captain Svensen said that there would have been no trouble whatever, if it ha<l not been for the arrival in Brisbane of a Laliour neitarnr who had been sent as an emissary for the Durnose by some Labour organisation in Melbourne. The next thing was that the tramway unionists announced their intention of wearing the badges from 11 a.m. on a certain day. Those men who started wearing them were nnielly told by Hip Trnmway Company that (hey would either have to give ill) wearing them or else leave (he same night. They, however, were given tho option of returning lo the service if they pave up wearing the badges within three or four days. At the end of tho term of irrnce Ihe manager of the company, a very slroii2 nian, slurtcd nutting on nonunionist* in place of those who persisted in wearing the badires. Outside of the badges question the men had no i?riovancn, as their rates of pav mid conditions of service were very good. Indeed. Captain Svensen said that as far n« the Tramway Company was concerned there was no doubt that the manager vniM be able lo keen Hip trams rnmiiii". but in reran! to tho general strike, il was hard to say who was going to win. HMI'LOVKR-R' FEDERATION. The following statement was supplied to (lie "Doily Mail" of February l> by .Mr, Eaoison. tlw senctal eecrotaiy. of tlio

Queensland Employers' Federation:—lt is with sincere regret Hint the Council of tile Federated Employers' Union lias felt coniiiclled to recognise the necessity for inviting a conference of representatives of employer;,' ■ interests tu consider Hie grave social and commercial disarrangements caused to a large unoffending majority of the citizens of Jlrisbano and suburbs by the abrupt and peremptory demand by Hie Australian Federation on the members of j;i trades unions, to leave their work. Tu a largo extent, on this labour depend the operations of trade, the. means of living, and (lie conveniences of social life. To many friends of the working classes, as well as to many of the workers themselves, there does not appear to be shown any kind of sympathetic regard for tho 'mutual relations of employers and workers, if indeed there is not a wanton indill'urencc to the personal and domestic interests of both classes. The- mandate for a general strike must to a large extent, deprive the public of tlio necessaries of life. Inevitably the widespread dislocation of business will be very inconvenient and injurious to everybody concerned. The primary cause of (his civic unrest and embarrassment is so adequate that it cannot be regarded' as other than a subterfuge to action meant to serve other purposes. It requires keenness of vision to see it in any violation of any essential principle of trade uniouism. Theru is no question of wages, no dispute as to hours or conditions of work. Whatever aggression there was it came from the unionists over whom the A.L.F. claims a right of authority. J-fad there been any such violation "of principle, means of settlement have beon provided by legislation of both Federal and State Parliaments. Recourse could have been had to legally constituted Arbitration Courl?. But a most deplorable phase of it is that it has been instigated, fomented by Labour leaders in the south who have an end of their own to serve. Employers of labour are compelled to ] conclude that this determined attempt to arrest the. trado activities of Brisbane and the district around it, leaves them no alternative but to adopt stringent measures for the protection of their business intarosts, and for the industrial safety, progress, and welfare of the gen- , eral community. In view of these reasons, at a large, and representative meefcing of employers of the city and suburbs held yesterday, tho following resolution was agreed- to.—"That a serious position having been caused by tho withdrawal of all union hands from the respective trades represented at this meeting, it is decided that in tho.present circumstances it is advisable to cease _ trading until such time as may be decided upon at a future, meeting of this federation, and that this resolution come into effect as from Friday evening next at (i o'clock." It was the feeling of the meeting that all theemployees who had remained loyal to their employers should be continued in their services during the dispute.