GASMEN'S STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 7

GASMEN'S STRIKE.

LORD MAYOR ACTIVE. APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS. POLICE REINFORCED. ATTITUDE OF STRIKERS. Bj Tcloerash—Presi Association—CoD7rlchl (ltec. March 4, 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, Mnrcli d, The situation has undergone little change to-day. The strikers are marking time, and state that there will be no development so far as they aro concerned until the employers reopen negotiations. It is reported that seventy tree labourers have been taken on at the Australian Gaslight Company's city works, and iorty by the North Shore Company, but they are inexpert, and tho production of gas is very slow. It has taken the North Shore Company almost three days to pi°duce twenty-four hours' supply, and if the present rate of production continues it is unlikely that the service will be renewed for some days, unless the unexpected happens, and tho strikers return, or sufficient volunteers offer to more fully man the work for sufficient development.

Eighty coal lumpers engaged on three colliers unloading for the gas companies ceased, and declared they would not work the coal if freo labourers were to inuke gas. v Large numbers of strikers spent the day in the vicinity of the works, but vere orderly and quiet, only chaffing any t'ree labourer, or supposed free labourer, who made his appearance. A hundred country police have already reached tho city, and others are in readiness to come if required. A special meeting of the executive of the "Labour Council has been called to cliscuss the relations-of the gasmen's action to other unions.

After a Cabinet meeting this morning to discuss the position, Ministers declared they had nothing to disclose. Tho Lord Mayor has culled a j.nblic meeting at tho Town Hall, to be held' at noon to-morrow, with a view of obtaining an expression of public opinion, and restoring the supply of gas to the ramniunity. He will appeal for volunteers to go ; with him, and help in the work. He was not going to ask anyone to do anything which ho was not prepared- to do himself. The Lord Mayor has the backing of the heads of mercantile and other bodies. GOVERNMENT DONE WITH THE . • MEN. Sydney, March 4. Mr. Carmichael, in an interview, said that, anxious as he was to see the termination of the trouble, events did not suggest that a settlement ivas pending. As far as tho Government was concerned, it had absolutely concluded its negotiations with the men. The attitude of the Government was clearly defined in the proclamation. In other quarters it is questioned whether the proclamation is effective, as, though it is given the Cabinet's endorsement, it has not received that of the Executive authority. FIRM STAND BY COMPANY. Sydney, March 1. Tho Inspector-General of Police is taking steps to adequately police tho city and suburbs, and to provide protection to the men replacing the strikers. He is drafting many additional police from the country. , The North Shore Company has adopted a firm stand, and will not negotiate further until the men resume. APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS. MAYOR SETS AN EXAMPLE.' Sydney, March 4.

Mr. M'Gowen's proclamation sets out that a fair and reasonable proposal from the Government for settlement having been refused by tho men, and the welfare of the general public being jeopardised, he, as head of tho Government, with the advice of his colleagues, colls the citizens to meet a public necessity by aiding the Government to keep order and sccuro a gas supply. The Lord Mayor has issued an appeal for volunteers to assist tho companies to maintain a supply. He says his concern is that tho community is being nmdo the victim of an industrial disturbance which the State laws specially provido shall bo dealt with in another manner. All tho trouble was precipitated without a note of warning or an opportunity for providing temporary substitutes. The Mayor offers himself to worlc four hours daily as a volunteer. STRIKE MAY EXTEND. PERFECT ORDER MAINTAINED. Sydney, March 4. So far very few free labourers have started. The police were present in strong force to protect any offering. All approaches were picketed, and large crowds of strikers were about. j Evorything was quiet, and thero was no attempt at interference beyond persuasion. Tl»>' strikers are sore at the alleged promise given by the Government to provide men for the North Shore Company. There aro ominous rumours of an extension of the trouble. The men claim that if any determined attempt is made to start free labour, the electrical employees will strike, and the fact that non-unionist clerks and other employees of tho companies are now handling coa} must result in tho coal lumpers and wharf labourers joining tho i strike. LORD MAYOR'S ADVICE. Sydney, March •!.. Speaking at Lord Chelmsford's farewell banquet in the Town Hall, tho Chief Justice (Sir W. P. Cullen), referred to tha short toast-list, and said it had been inevitably an absence of gas. The Lord Mayor said: "You may be asked to-morrow, 'Shall there be light?' I want you to reply the imperative words, 'Let thero be light,' and back your opinions by your actions." OTHER TRADES AFFECTED. • A HUNDRED FACTORIES IDLE. Sydney, March 4. Besides the boot trade, many • other trades are directly or indirectly affected. A hundred factories are idle. Unless there is a settlement to-day the number will be greatly augmented. Clothing manufacturers state that if they have to close it will mean the throwing out of work of five thousand people. Printing and other trades where gas is employed are seriously handicapped. pour hundred working jewellers are nut. The Australian Gaslight Company is advertising for n thousand men, and the North Shore Gas Company for four hundred men, to fill the places of the sfrik- • ers, SUGGESTION BY THE UXTONS. Sydney, March I. ! It In suggested by the unions that the refusal of th« directors to accept the

men's proposals lias a legal aspect. Under tlio Gas Act they could pass on to the consumers a proportion of the extra' cost of wages, resulting from tlio Wages Hoard awards, but tlicy would still have to go through the formality of getting the sanction of the Judge lo suck a step, and the companies arc afraid they will not he able to niake good their case.before a Judge that the increase, which will represent about .£26,000, had been forced upon them by the Wages Hoard. A' LABOUR COMBINATION. TO BEAT TUB BOSSES. Sydney, March 4. Mr. Peter Bowling, secretary of the Illawarra Coal Miners' Union, attended tho strikers' mass meeting, and subsequently stated that he had ken instructed by his union to form a combination of wharf labourers, coal lumpers, -gas employees, and coal miners to beat tho bosses. ANOTHER STRIKE PROBABLE. (Rec. March 5, 1 a.m.) Sydney, March 4. While condemning tho f sitrike a big section of tho public consider that tho gasmen are justified; in demanding a shilling advance. A meeting of the' executive of tho Labour Council advised all unions not to participate in any action against nonunionists without consulting the Council. Another strike is threatened. Incensed at tho delay in obtaining a Woges Board award, the Ferry Employees' Union will take a ballot on Friday on the question of coming out. A previous mcetr ing strongly favoured a strike, which would mean paralysing the ferry traffic. THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. (Rec. March 4, 10.53 p.m.) Sydney, March 4. Tho Lord Mayor is receiving many offers of volunteers from all classes. As tho situation becomes more oruto through tho increasing deadlock to business, a consequent shortening of nands is threatened* and a further shortening on a much more extensive scale if the victimisation of the community is allowed to continue. The press and public, while, commending Mr. M'Gowon's manifesto, demand prompt measures for enforcing the pmaniountcy of the interests of the community.