STRIKERS’ MANIFESTO.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 891, 14 May 1903, Page 2

STRIKERS’ MANIFESTO.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi Received 10.12 p.ru., May 13 Melbourne, May 13.

The strikers to-day issued another manifesto, dealing with grievances. It concludes : “ We offered the Premier at previous interviews a fair proposal that he should meet us in open conference, untrammelled. Ho rejected that, as he wished to humiliato us first, and then moot us afterwards, which practically meant that we should trust ourselves to a Government that has been consistently hostilo to us, and never lost an opportunity to malign us as employees. Our previous manifesto being interpreted as a sign of weakness, we take this opportunity of denying and reiterating. Wo aro as linn as ever.”

The Secretary and President of the Amalgamated Society and Carriage Builders, in order to pave the way for an action at law against tho Government, waited upon tho Commissioner this morning, and were informed their services wore not required. Train servioos to both suburbs and country were furthor improved to-day. Thirty-one drivers wore actually employed. Six country trains wero despatched and seven arrived. Four were also run on country branch lines.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

SHORT AND MEANING SPEECH,

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrighi Received 10.32 p.rn., May 13. Melbourne, May 13.

The opening of tho special session of Parliament was carried out with tho simplest ceremony on record in the history of the State.

Despite a proclamation against a street gathering thero wero large crowds at the entrance to the Exhibition Building where the State Parliament is now housed, to watch tho arrival of the Governor, but thero was no demonstration.

The Governor’s speech consisted of a couple sentences : “I have called you together after a very brief recess in order to obtain your advice on a matter of most pressing urgency. My advisers purpose submitting to you immediately a measure to deal with the strike which now unhappily exists in the railway service.’ 1

LATEST NEWS,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 1.17 a.m., May 14. Sydney, May 13. A train left for Albury to-day with mails and passengers, and it is expected it will connect with one to Melbourne despatched to-day.

Melbourne May 13,

Traffic is being conducted without a hitch. The number of passengers is daily increasing.

Professor Kermot is instructing the drivers in the use of the Westinghouse brake.

Business iu all directions is very slow, only immediate demands being supplied. The price of chaff has fallen from eight to six pounds. Other lines show signs of easing. Small consignments of butter and other perishable products were forwarded by the country trains to-day. Despite tho last statement that came from an official source the strike leaders deny that- there have been any defections of the men.

A SUPPRESSION BILL,

STRONG SPEECH BY PREMIER IRVINE.

By Telegraph. Press Association. Copyrigh: Received 12.35 a.m., May 14.

Melbourne, May 13.

The stoppage of the railways has placed a formidable obstacle in the way of circulating the metropolitan dailies. The Agesucceeded iu getting its papers to Ballarat on the morning succeeding the strike by despatebing a special steamer lo Geelong, thence to Ballarat by motor car. Papers were eagerly purchased up to half-a-crown

apiece. The Trades Hall Council has received a cable from the Secretary of the Federated Trades Union, London, wishing them every success.

Received 12.40 a.m,, May 14,

Barricades have been erected in the vicinity of the exhibition (Parliament) buildings, and a strong force of police is on duty.

The Premier, on rising, was loudlycheered. Thero was a very full House. He said that he intended to ask leave to introduce a short Bili dealing with the strike. Government had taken action on the strength of the Act passed by the House enabling tho Minister to direct that a certain policy should be carried out. Government directed the railway servants

to the law forbidding public servants to associate with a political body. As a result they now had to deal with a longmeditated revolt. He recapitulated the events leading up to the strike. lie had met the men with a sincere, earnest de-

sire to prevent by any means short of absolute surrender, the catastrophe which nad occurred. In order to gain their ends the men were prepared to force Parliament and the country on their knees to petition them to take charge of the- State property. It was an attempt to wrench by violence from the public what they could not get constitutionally. Anything short of coin-

plete victory mean: absolute utsaster, and the dislocation of party Government. It had been said that Ministerialists’ action precipitated a strike, lie painted out six months ago that they threatened to strike uecauso they were asked to share in the retrenchment forced upon all sections of the public by the State finances. Conciliation was impossible' now, but as many men have been uiislc-d Government thought there should be room fur repentance, but the room could not be for ever. It was only by complete and absolute submission to Department and the public they had injured could they hope to be taken back into the grace or favor of those injured or the Government which represented them. Mr Irvine then read the preamble of the proposed Bill, which stated the necessity for the suppression of the strike. Sir A. J. l’eacock, Leader of the Opposition, followed the Premier. He said he admired the splendid action of the Premier. Government must rule when constituted authority was threatened. He wished to move an amendment, I which, while regretting what the men had done,' they ho ordered to return to work and Parliament would consider their [ grievances. lie hoped something of the sort would be done to save widespread distress and misery. The men must give in, but he hoped that even at the 11th hour a chance would be given them. The Premier shook his head at Kir A. J. Peacock’s proposal. Mr Bromley declared that the Government wished the men to have no rights. Their association with tho Trades Hall for seventeen years had done no harm. Government were responsible for tho strike, but Government puppet employers’ unions, reform leagues, and other similar bodios advocated conciliation. Received 1.10 a.in., May 14. In his speech the Premier said that the Government were asking tho House to give powers to bring tho strike to a successful termination. If they failed, either through want oi' detoeruimuion or want of support of Parliament, it would bo disastrous, not only to tho future government of Victoria, but to other States of Australia. The Government would deal with it finally and olleetively. Some foolish persons advocated conciliation. Anyone who urged conciliation at such a timo as the present joined themselves with thoso opposing tho Government. Tho debate is proceeding. The details of the Bill are not yet disclosed. Important developments are possiblo to-morrow as the result of Parliament’s meeting.