CABINET'S PLAN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1992, 24 February 1914, Page 5

CABINET'S PLAN.

WHAT CAN IT BE?

THE COERCION ACT.

AIM THE MffiEKrMIE.

LITTLE CHANGE IN THE

POSITION.

By relejrraph-FK9s Associfiiioft-CepyltsM

(Reo. February 23, 9.25 p.m.)

•..-■., Sydney, February 23. Cabinet to-day dismissed the position in connection with the.strike of butchers who 'wero working uiider an award in Sydney, and who otmsekl work on February 9 because the cmplayces failed to concede -their demands tor a 48-hour week and an advance of 10s. weekly in wages. ; . . At the conclusion of. the meeting, Mr, Estell (Minister of Labour) stated that lie had placed before his colleagues proposals for a certain course of' action, and that it had been decided that further investigations should be irtado before anything Was done. Mr. Estoll declined to state the nature of his proposals, but it is rumoujed that information is being • gathered with ft view to action being taken against the employers under the Coercion Act. Probably definito action will stand over till Mr"Holman's return from New Zealand"' tomorrow. Otherwise the situation shows little change. Both sides hedd meet* ings . to-day, but apparently they are both marking time until the Govern? 'ment's action is revealed. One development w.as the removal of tho embargo from ■ the skins and hides of stock killed % tlift master butchers, This stop was taken in view ef the fact that largo numbers of tho fellmongers' ' employees have been working sliort time. i'or some • months, and tho iion-rcnioval ( of the embargo would' havo meant that' three hundred woii-ld have been out of employment. .Though there was, a frig crowd of interested spefcta-toii'at. tlio Home-tab stock sales, the offerings Were small. The only,buyers were ilia-suburban and. country butchers, tlio city slaughtermen entirely holding oft'. Prices ranged up to 2s; 6d. dearer than usual. Bacon, eggs, and cheese are in strong request, and supplies are below the demaud. Bacon has advanced another penny. Small goods aro in short -supply, and the Victorian and Queensland markets are being called on. There is no present prespert of a settlement .of tho strike;. Tho Labour Council has decided on a course ,of action in regard to the unions affected'Or likely to be affected. Tho course.decided ofji has not been publicly disclosed, 'but' will bo communicated to the unions themselves-. The men's committee of .inquiry replied., to tfe ha/h#xtt Council's'proffered aid that the meat industry would control the strike-, and would inform tho couh-cii'tif further intension' should ta-fe place. 'The- employers aim at- opening many additional depots £j]is week. Saturday's shortage, of meat was due to tho small number of men av-aflablo to do 1 the Killing, also to cold storage employees' refusal to handle ilia meat. Tho employers propose; to overcome the latter difficulty by handling the meat themselves. Thoy have received many offers of assistance; outside members of the associatioiiy.-b-ut sp far havo declined to avail themselves of free labour. , r-Somo £5000;' his; he-en .su-bseribQd by tlio Employers' Dofetteo Fund.'' This with the' profits from the sale a:fc the meat depots will bo used as eompe.nsatioii for tho smaller butchers, and lor other purposes qf-jtho associated struggle. Mr. Estell > (Minister for Labour) claims that his g«od intention with regard to the penalising of.strikers was thwarted owing to tlio disinclination of tho employers f<j perform their duty_to the public by supplying evidence which would.enableths penal 'classes to ho enforced. The Act had failed because tlio employers had ftojt assisted t.ha Department in making .strikes tho expensive expedient thoy were intended to he, POSSIBLE PROSECUTIONS. ' (Rcc. February 24„ 0.20 a.m.) .'■'.■:. February 23It is announced that Mr. Esteß (Mit> ister of Labour) and tlio Attorney-fen-oral are conducting ' strik& inquiries, with.a view' to possible'prosecutions. Tho'rcsult of the inquiries frill he placed before the 'full Cabinet, when Mr. Holman returns to-morrow,

WHARF LABOUBfRS' DgOISION. in'begard to. overtime, Sydney/February 23. Despite tho wharf labourers' decision to resume workiitg overtime, the co'.allumping - section persists far doffig day work only so far-as. the- handling of coal .is' concerned, but-has consented to deal with ordinary ..cargo after 5 .o'clock, so as, to secure a....share, of tho overtime pay. -..-.- Tho.'lumpers'.attitudd is causing much delay in the coaling of vessels. , IRON TRADES DISPUTE, MANY SHIP-BEFAIRING ORDERS .-• - ... REFUSED. February 23. The iron trades' strike is causing 'serious dislocation at the docks. Many ship-repairing ortfeim have been refused. •:■■.. .';A DEADLOCK. (R«c. February 23, 0.25 p.m.) . ' Sydries, February 23.. ' A deadlock ■ has been readied in tire. ironworkers' strike. Mi?. Estell, who sought to , intervene, that tho masters.declined liis invitation to meet tlio men in conference. A BALLOT"FAVOIIto. • ■ (Rec. February 24, 1.10 a,m.) Sydney, February 23. Cabinet discussed the irtii trades' strike, and it is understood favoured a proposal of taking tt ballot of strikers oii the question of resuming! Bonding ■ efcrencß of tho b-ottbl© to the Arbitration Court< TRACIC SIDE OF THE STRIKE. TWO DEATHS. (Rec. February 23, 10.4.0 p.m.) Sydney, February 23. A butcher* named Herbert Creamer, who was out of work, cut his throat with fatal results. Another butcher, named Perry, was fishing, and Was washed off the* roeks and drownocK