BRISBANE'S GREAT FIGHT.

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

BRISBANE'S GREAT FIGHT.

BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT. UNIONISTS RETURNING TO WORK UNRESERVEDLY. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS.

Bj Telen-aph-Fress ABSOslallon-Oopyrlehl (Rcc. February 7, 8.30 p.m.) Brisbane, February 7. All is quiet. Fairly efficient train and train services are running and business has largely resumed; many big houses report that a large percentage of (he employees have returned to work, particularly women and girls. Mr. Denhatn, Premier, claims that three-quarters of the workers are back. Mr. Coyne, President of the Strike Committee, disputes this and declares that those who have resumed are not unionists and points to the fact that warehouses where the men are employed are unionists. The wharf hands, carters, barbers, and the theatres and other trades are still idle. Detachments of special police continue to arrive and the Government consider they are in ( a position to cope with any possible development. The strike leaders are confident of a peaceful victory. It is reported that the union executive, as well as tho Premier, asked for military ftid to be sent and were refused. The Railway Commissioner states that only three per centum of the traffic men were out; of three hundred and seventy who struck in the city, a hundred have resumed and some others have asked to bo taken back, but their request has been declined and their places will be filled. The Government has decided to allow the hotels to open from noon till 3 p.m. to-morrow by way of an experiment. The tram sen-ices to-day were extended to the outer suburbs. Horses Stabbed With Hat-pins. As a result of complaints from several mounted police that their horses were stabbed with hat-pins, an order has been issued barring the use of hat-pins in crowded streets. Wharf Labourers' Threat. Some r,f the special constables are being utilised on the wharves unloading timber anil for other duties. The whnrflabourers strongly resent this, and at a meeting decided to take steps to prevent the specials blacklegging, pacifically or otherwise. Bombastic Strike Speech. Mr. Coyne, President of tbe Strike Committee, addressing a mass meeting of strikers at tho Trades Hall, said they must not think that a compulsory conference was a ready way to cure all ills; it would probably prove- abortivo and things would be "as you were." Referring to the threat of the employers not to re-engage strikers he declared that tho Strike Committee, had decided that no man or woman shall return till justico is ensured; all the trouble will not lx> settled till every employer has guaranteed tho reinstatement of every employee. The United Labourers' Society has asked the Melbourne Trades Hall to boycott the Test Match if Maclaren plays, because ho acted as a special constable. Strike Spreads to the Country. Reports from the country indicate that the strike is steadily spreading. At most railway extension works the men have downed tools, following the example of Brisbane. Tho hotels at the various strike centres havo closed.