RAILWAY STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 893, 16 May 1903, Page 2

RAILWAY STRIKE.

By Telegttapii—Press Association— Copyright. Melbourne May 15. The U'-bcte on the Str.ke iiiii was eon• tiuucd li.rougiiout :u= night, and is sti.l proceeding. At tints the proceedings were lively. Mr Butcher. Labor member, said the Government's action in calling on the Executives to resign before the meeting of Parliament prt juuieed the case. The majority or the Government supporters hau then- :i ii-i mamieltd. Tin B'.ii was worthy it ltus.'ia in every wav. Lie regretted c.-iocgiug to a P:-.rii-.ui:en: which dared to introduce such an niiauuus ami scandalous Bill. The men believed they were striking a blow for their liberty. They may have made a mistake, but to err was human, to forgive divine. Mr Kirlon declared this revolt a rebellion. The O'Malleys. Dawsons and gentlemen who hud just arrived from New Zealand were responsible for having encouraged the men.

Mr llirsch, while condemning the men's letion, advocated leniency, lie was glad :o hear that the Premier was prepared to iceepi modifications.

Mr Tienwith opposed the Bill as being unnecessary anu unjustifiable. The Government had no tight to interfere with the men outside their work. Lie denied that the Trades flail was a political body. Xne Government acred monstrously in

risking danger over the trifle at stake, lie hoped Parliament would udopt a medium course and end the awful state of

things. A large meeting of sympathisers with the strikers last night denounced the Strike Bill as a piece of barbarism unparalleled in British history, aud hotly attacked Ministers.

Trie official statement that 56 drivers had decided to return to the service is denied by the drivers’ secretary, who said he had an instance where men who were alleged to have returned to work, and who at that moment were at strike headquar-

ters. lie asked if 56 had returned why were they not running the trains V The men were standing firm and fighting fairly, honestly, aud quietly, and causing as little trouble and hardship as they could and would continue to do so. If

the Bill passes a few may waver, but there would bo few indeed. “We will,” he said, “ hold a meeting. They can lock up our metropolitan 6UO under their extraordinary Bill, but that will not run the trains.”

Mr Irvine has received a cable from the Australian Chamber of Commerce, London, in conjunction with a number of influential Victorians there, cordially endorsing their action, aud wishiug them success.

As showing the extent the telegraphs have been availed of as a result of the strike nearly haif a million words were sent at the city office on May 12th, representing LI 155. This is L 153 better than the previous day’s record. One outcome of the strike, is diverting a large volume of the Victorian border traffic to New South Wales. The Premier states that it is not the intention of the Government to permit all the strikers who are willing to do so to resume duty-. Men who eamo to the assistance of tho State, whereof there are 211 now actually engaged, did so under a distinct promise of permanent employment. Their claims were paramount for the positions for which they were suited. Moreover, it was not intended at tho present timo to bring tho service up to anything like tho full conditions prevailing before the strike. Those men who were active in organising tho strike or took part in intimidating or were guilty of leaving their traius anywhere on the lines will receive no consideration. The Government bad appointed a board, consisting of Messrs Sachso and Pitt, honorary members of the Cabinet. The Board would enquiro into the claims ot the strikers applying to resume work. Prom tho utterances of tho men themselves it may pretty safely ho said that there is practically no likelihood of the signalmen joining the strike. Yesterday’s mileage run was 5700 by passenger’s trains, and 225 by goods trains. The running of the country trains has to a groat extent re established the postal service. Eight Executive officers of the Amalgamated Society wore removed from office. They have instituted proceedings against the Commissioner for wrongful dismissal. The damages have not yet been fixed. Sydney, May 15.

Tho Herald says tho strength of tho Victorian Ministry and the feeling in Parliament and the country is shown by the drastic provisions of the Strike Biff. It is a measure of self-defence against organised lawlessness as dangerous to public peace as auy overt act of rebellion against constituted authority. It needs no defence, strong as the provisions may appear, remembering that its drastic novel provisions will disappear as soon as tho strike is over.

Tho Daily Telegraph says the Bill is the product of a unique occasion, and therefore is not to bo judged as an ordinary measure. It employs more force than is necessary, therefore more than is desirable, but this defect can easily be remedied. Mr Irvine’s enthusiasm for defence has over-reached itself to the verge of aggression. Unless modified the Bill will probably have a dangerous recoil. Its main purpose, however, every man who believes in the maintenance of public liberty and public order must whole-heart-edly support. The Labor Council has adopted resolutions expressing contempt of tho Irvine Government for staining the name of Australia by the passage of a Coorcion Act to prevent the assemblage of free men, and pledging itself to support the strikers, and fight against all tyranny that will prevent free men associating for their mutual benefit. The press was excluded from the meeting. The Herald’s Jlelbourne correspondent says that, measured by the bald figures, the position of the Department would not appear too reassuring. Normally, tho services of 325 drivers were required. At present the Department has only 35 at its command, but then the hours are very long, and they would represent what perhaps would ordinarily be demanded of 60 men. Given its best aspect, the Department was running a time-table equal to about a 60-man service, which, however, was improving daily ; and, anyhow, under normal conditions, there were many superfluous trains run.

A FARCICAL DEBATE,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh Received 1.50 p.m., Jluy 15. Melbourne, May 15.

Tho debate has reached a farcical stage, Mr Maloney, member for West 3lelbourne, conducting a stonewall, quoting Chaucer and extensively from Bradshaw. A point of order against a quotation from Bradshaw was knocked out on the ground that it was the most suitable work to take extracts from in dealing with railways. Up to breakfast the House seemed to have forgotten about the crisis, doing the best to get the most amusement possible out of the debate.