THE FERRY STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1707, 26 March 1913, Page 7

THE FERRY STRIKE.

BUSINESS RUSH MET. STATE SERVICES RELIEVE SITUATION. ' THE COMPANIES ON YELYET. By Tciesraiih-Presi Association—CoDS'rtL'ht (Rec. March 25, 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, March 25. The Government's l'reo lerry services met the crisis on the resumption of busi- • ness after the holidays better, than was anticipated, and managed to lift all traffic without undue delay. To meet tho morning's rush four steamers wero put on the Milson's Point run.

As tho trains and trams poured in with fresh relays of business people the wharves were densely massed, tho sweltering 'heat adding to the discomfort. There was some jostling and pushing, but on the whole tho crowds wero splendidly handled, as they had been throughout by tile police. ■ The Harbour Trust officials behaved well, and accepted the situation goodhumomedly, and, working at top speed, packed tho last possible inch with living freight. The . boats gradually relieved the pressure, and by' nine o'clock tlu» rush was over. During tho rest of the day the demands were easily met. Similarly, the Cremornc service, upon which much regular Manly traffic is centred, proved fairly efficient, Mr. Carmichael,. president of the Harbour Trust, expressed satisfaction at the result. One of tho factors that helped .towards a solution of tho difficulty and adifed greatly to the convenience of tho public was that some of tho boats ran to Circular Quay.; previously all went to Macquarrio Point, where the whole of the trams unloaded. The usually busy quay had a forlorn appearance with deserted, wharves, flanked by rows of idlo ferry steamers. . A largely-augmented tram service met .the pressure caused ,by tho stoppage at Balmain and Watson's Bay. and other ferry-served centres on tho city side of the harbour.

The public is beginning to accept tho position* philosophically, and adapt thetnsalfes to the existing facilities. The Government is using'every effort to. better all tho means of communication, and order is gradually growing, out of what at first threatened to be a most serious dislocation. The Watson Bay Company got two steamers going with scratch crews, and the Manly and Lane Cove emergency services were continued, though they war 9 far from meeting tho demands of tho morning and night rushes. . As far as the strike itself goes, the paities appear 16 be no nearer a settlement. Both are apparently determined to fight "the light of sit-down." At a mass mooting of'the strikers general satisfaction was expressed at Mr. Cai'michael's firm attitude in refusing to take aver tho companies fleets, conditional upon strikers not being employed oil them. The men expressed . their willingness to man the Government boats. A. statement by tho secretary of tho frireiuen and Deck Hands' Union that hn had refused to attend the sitting of tho Wf.ges Board, which was resumed this morning!' until tho forty-eight hours' week was granted was received with cheers. The secretary added that he was compelled to tako this action in fairness to the tneii. >

Tho companies to a. certain extent stand on velvet over tho strike, as a very large proportion of the Tegular travellers' an-, season ticket holders, and the companies' agreements provide against compensation to tickot-holders in the event of a strike. While, the striko lasts, the. companies not only savo working expensos, but retain a largo proportion of the prepaid revenue. « ■ NO COAL'FOR NON-UfiIONIST BOATS WILD EUSII BY THE CROWD. ■ Sydney, March 25.

The forry strikers' union does not object to the Government running steamers during .the strike, but the coal lumpers will not coal the Ferry Companies' boats if run by non-unionists. At a meeting of representatives of tho unions involved, it was agreed that twelve deck hands should man tho Governmcut steamers to-day oil union conditions, 1 namely—tho, samo wages for forty-eight hours weekly asithecompanyispaying for sixty hours. It is understood that the engineers and firemen will consider themselves free to accept work with tho , Government on terms which tho strikers are willing to endorse. A- wild rush occurred during the busy period last night. While tho crowd was straggling to get aboard the freo Government ferries a rowdy section showed no mercy on, tho, women, « number of whom .wero injured. Others were rescued in on exhausted or fainting condition. The police summoned reinforcements, and forty constables were soon in attendance, and got control over what was threatening to become a riot. Tho Port Jackson Company in fonr and a half hours yesterday afternoon, with a limited service, carried threo thousand people to Manly. The Balmain Company managed/to run two steamers to Pig Tree Bridge. Tho first, boat to make tho trip was manned by directors and officials, who did tho doking.

A CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS. (Rec. March 26, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, March 25. A conference between tlio mnnagers of the ferry companies and the strikers' representatives is progressing. There is some reason to l>eliove that its decisions will have an important bearing on the strike. The ferry officials pay n tribute to business men for assisting, to work tlio traffic.

SAVE ,£5 TO ,815. Onr Stocktaking Salo of New 1 and Second-hand Motor Cycles now on. Zeniths, Rovers, Hobarts. Enficlds, etc". Tremendous reductions. Be sure and seo the many bargains. WATT'S MOTOR GARAGE, Palmerston North.

. Messrs. A. L. Wilsoa nnd Co. have been instructed to eell tho extensive plant of Kops Brewery Company, including every articlo for tho brewing of hop" beer— boilers, coppers, machinery, ere., also office appliances. Tho above is offered for unreserved sale. Mrs. Rollcston, hair and face specialist, has I'm- sale a (inantitv of excellent preparations for the hail- null face, especially for dandruff, irritation of tlio sealp, premature Rreymvis. etc. Mrs. IMleston also advertises suitable preparations for the complexion.

A Glagsow poliivman who had broken into shops and warehouses while on duty, nnd hail stolen money and geodf, wu* sentcuccd to eighteen months' hard labour.