RAILWAY STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 887, 11 May 1903, Page 2

RAILWAY STRIKE.

EXCITING SCENES. STRIKERS U'oNFIDKNT OF SUCCESS. By Telegraph —Press Association — Copyright. MELBOURNE, May '■>. ti he strike commenced at midnight. Crowds gathered ai the principal statinns in see tlie me:i (nine out. Keeling ,u limes ran high, cheers and hoots predominating. As Ihe trains came in the drivers and iirenien did not both*;-about taking the engines 1o the sheds. They simply drew the tires ami turned off steam, at the spot where they happened to i.e when tho clock struck midnight hour. The station yards are dolled with engines in most umisiia! places. It will require a good many Government loyal drivers to clear the lines fur traffic.

Great, crowds thronged Collins Street during the afternoon, and business was practically at a standstill, the strike he’.iig the topic of conversation. Only those acquainted with Melbourne ami its tram system can realise the seriousness of the situation brought about by the strike. The effect was felt early, when the Government at 1.30 p.m. refused to take goods. Then draymen and carriers were forcibly reminded that

many of them would lie thrown idle by the. railway men's act. Even the restricted service arranged by the Government is regarded as too optimistic. The utmost difficulty will he found in getting trains through to the country districts. The Government has decided to advertise in every State and also in New Zealand for men. If they are not forthcoming ihcn an effort will he made to get men from India, America, and Britain. One result of the strike is to increase Ihe price of food products. Bullocks went up with a jump to fifteen pounds. All fruit and lish

supplies have been stopped. Milk has advanced a penny per quart’, chaff 10s a ton, butter one penny, and potatoes ss.

Many of the executive officers were entitled to compensation ranging from £2OO to £505, or pensions from £52 to £ll3. Both Mr Irvine, flic Premier, and Mr Bent, Minister for Railways, were greeted with hooting and coun-ter-cheers on their appearing in the street. The secretary of the enginernen is

confident of success. lie says that there is no chance of the Department instituting a service of any value to the public. Men who are noi used to the railway lines cannot run engines without endangering human life. Besides, lie stales, tlie engines are in a disgraceful condition, and in tlie hands of inexperienced men they will fail. Tim Age this morning says : “ The sudden resolve of the engine-drivers’ executive to strike came like a bolt from the blue, it seems to have been no part of the men’s original campaign. ft. is not a strike for belter pay, fairer treatment, or better conditions. The Premier distinctly,promised that lie would see all the real grievances of Ihe railway men re-

dressed. Therefore there can he no parade ”of grievances to justify the strike and cause the men to exalt themselves in authority above Parliament and Llie. Government of the country. We venture, to say that no body of men jn any ,Statc ever exhibited a more selfish and callous indifference to Uie interests of their fel-low-citizens.” SYDNEY, May 11.

The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the strike, says : “ In Uie circumstances, flic duty of all concerned, however remotely, in the matter is to refraih from saying or doing anything which would tend to promote and strengthen the difficulty Jn this connection it is particularly to he regretted that a member of our own Ministry, lias permitted himself to be led into an expression of opinion which may cause the strikers to believe they have the sympathy; of our .Government.’ The Daily Telegraph says : “ Boiled down, tlie reason given for the precipitation. of hostilities is the fear of A J arl'iamcntary action. The .Govern- 1 mcnti, in convening a meeting o£ the constitutional representatives of the people, is denounced as being Ihe result of a desire to settle the question 1)v legislation, and it is for the purr pose of anticipating this “unfair ' course, as it is called, that uhestiilt has been declared. The Union taken a course intended to defeat supremacy of Parliament, aud set £ in its place the coercion, rule of a Strike Committee. The conduct of a responsible Minister of State Jke Mr O'Sullivan, in rushing to take-up sides against Parliamentary Govtnnient in Victoria, can only be desejbcd as lamentable.”

the partial -time-table § a FAILURE.

,SYDNEY, MAIL TRAIN STORED. 'A STATE OF. CHAOS. ’ Received 1i.7 p.im, May 9 By Telegraph—Press Associaffin—< Copyrights MELBOURNE,- j£ y 0 . Early to-day it was founcjjnpossiblc to carry oui even the partial time-table arranged yesterday owing to there not being enough anil firemen, a number of tiioee v| lo - lV erc expected failing to turn up.

Large crowds gathered atSper.cer street and other stations It watch the despatch of trains, the t o wds including many of the strikes, , made efforts to induce thos V J, , , taken their places to join' ,10 , aa la-rs. Bevond llm- ■ ' '- nc -sUi " • -> anu a Lute liuot- *■-’> -- proceedings were quiet and orderly. It was close to eight o’clock before the first suburban train got away, and very few .were despatched up to noon. dhe country service was cancelled, and the sale of tickets was .stopped early in the morning.

Ihe usual mail train to Sydney is amongst those stooped.

EXTRAORDIXARY, .SCENE'S/ TWO ACCIDENTS, LINES BLOCKED AND MUCH DAMAGE DONE. SCARED .VOLUNTEERS DESERT A TRAIN. A PRE-ARRANGED DESERTION.

By .Telegraph—Press 'Association— Copyright. MELBOURNE. May 9, Received 7. is p.m., May 9. MELBOURNE, .May 9. Tin: scene in the city this morning Was exl ranniinary.

The travelling public early realised I hat Die temporary service was a

failure, and rushed 1 lie trams and busses, which put forth all their available resources, while all descriptions of vehicles were pressed into file service.

Bicyclists turned out 'in great force Many thousands perforce iiad to he content with walking from Princess'tree tto the station. Only a service to Camberwell was attempted ; even that was too great a strain. Three trams were sent out early in the morning. The first went through all right. The second had not moved fen yards when it broke down. Only one had returned up to ten o’clock.

A similar slate of affairs prevailed in Flinders street. Altogether, tip to ten o’clock-, only six suburban trains were despatched. Just as one was starting, an accident happened to the gauge. The volunteer driver and fireman jumped off.- Luckily, nothing serious resulted,” but they were relieved of further duty. V. _ ,

The Wcsliiigimu-c brakes no! Km mi Used, most of tiic trams arc consider'd unsafe. Tin* volunteer driver of one of the early trains was just ready to start. Tin* Ppcncar-st reel guard blew the whistle. The driver took up his coat and stepped off ilk 1 footboard. Two accidents are reported so iar. A train being taken out by a retired driver ai Fort Melbourne ran off Ihe line, it. is alleged, owing la hie sigiials not operating properly. The traffic was blocked all morning. ■Rise second accident was more serious. A goods train from Benaila. to Melbourne was derailed at Avene!. Several trucks and the engine are lying across the track. Great damage was done to the roiling stock and permanent way. Owing to the strike conditions, it has been lound impossible 1.0 clear the line. Crowds of sinters and sympathisers gathered at all the stations. It is reported that the engineers in tlie tramway power-houses have decided to join the strikers.

ALLEGED GREASING OF KAILS. NEARLY 'ALL MEN OBEY CALL OF UNION; BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT.; EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT. SHUNTERS AND SIGNAL MEN LIKELY TO STRIKE.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received 5.2-1 p.m., May !b MELBOURNE, May ft. The express from Sydney arrived an hour late. It is alleged that the delay was caused owing to the rails at a steep gradient being greased. Trains are sine-tracked all along the country lines, live slock lieing taken out. and goods left untouched. .Excepting in 1 lie city and suburbs, mails are undelivered. There is a great block at the Genera] Rost Office in consequence of fills.

The telegraph offices will be specially opened at certain liours to-mor-row (Sunday) for 1 lie convenience of the public. q'hc Secretary of the Kiiginedrivers’ Association is greatly elated at tin* breakdown of the service. With one or two exceptions, Hie whole of tlie members'of Ihu Association obeyed the call out. A social, commencing at. midnight., for the purpose of keeping the strikers together, was held at the Trades Hail last night. The addresses included several by Federal Labor senators and members of the State Rarliament whose sympathies are with the men. The Government, notwithstanding the fact that, their promised service lias broken down, stale that in few days they wil 1 be easily able to get, enough men to carry out tlieiv prom ises’ to give a fairly effective

scrvie . , Mr Beni, lira Minister for .Railways, declares that he is confident the. Government must and shall succeed, and that, the sorriest men in the country will presently he the drivers and firemen. Excitement is at fever heat ill the city. .There are police forces at, Melbourne stations. A policeman also accompanies eaeli train, but, so far there lias not, been tin; least cail for their services. It. is announced that there is a possibility of the shunters and signal men striking, and it is reported that tlie fitters have struck, but the news lacks confirmation.;

ENORMOUS INCREASE JN COST OF. PROVISIONS. STATE FREEZING WORKS CLOSED DOWN. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright^ Received 5.20 p.m., May 1(1. MELBOURNE, May .10. • Domestic provisions have advanced 25 per cent. The Government freezing works have closed down owing to the strike —throwing over one hundred men out of work.

TRADE COMPLETELY DISLOCATED. COUNTRY PEOPLE CAUGHT NAPPING. SIGNALMEN READY TO STRIKE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 1.10 cum, May 11. Melbourne.. May IGA The strike completely dislocated trodc throughout the State. One o£ the most sorioas phases is tho paraiysm of traffic. In inland centres the possibility of a strike was considered so remote that the ma jority of country tradespeople wero caught napping. When it was seen to be inevitable orders were sent to Melbourne, in shoals, but came too iato to fill. At present there is no prospect of a country train service.

The outlook, if tho strike is protracted, is serious. The signalmen are waiting developments. It is understood that, if they consider the Government’s further action merits it, or if called on, they are prepared to strike. Tha tramway employee.’ are non-asso-ciatea, and their Semis of employment guard against striking.

CONTINUOUS CABINET SITTINGS 'THE MEN VERY JUBILANT. FISHING INDUSTRY SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. By Telegr apb—Presß Association—Copyright Received 1.26 a.m., May 11. Melbourne May 10.

A. sub-committee of the Cabinet appointed to deal with tho strike holds continuous sittings, and the men’s executive are in constant session. The Government arc firm and confident that they will eventually overcome the men. The latter are jubilant at their success, and are equally firm and confident. Tho fishing industry will suffer severely. About .700 fishermenhave virtually been thrown idle owing to there being no trains to carry fish.

SUPPORT FOR STRIKERS,

NEW SOUTH WALES RAILWAY MEN. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 1.10 a.m., May 11. Sydney, May 10.

The first levy of New South Wales railway men to support the strikers on the basis of one day’s pay per fortnight resulted in T 750. The levies will be continued until the trouble is ended. A meeting of tho New South Wales branch of the Railway’s Federation to-day discussed the situation. Satisfaction was expressed at tho success of the strikers’ effort and willingness to increase the levy if required. Tramway employees are also supporting the strikers. Excepting for tho block in intcr-State mails the strike so far has had little effect on New South V ales. INTERESTED CROWDS.

CHASE AFTER NON-UNIONISTS,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 1.26 a m., May 11. Melbourne, May 10. To-day saw r.o important developments. A few suburban Ira n; were run. C owts gathered at the various railway stations to watch events, but generally everything was quiet and orderly. On Saturday there was a slight disturbance in North Melbourne, where some non-unionists were chased and hooted, but -thorc was nothing serious.