AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 557, 9 April 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

RAILWAY STRIKE UNSETTLED. GOVERNMENT OFFER REJECTED. SECRETARY URGES ACCEPTANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association.—lOopyrlfrM 1 OopyrlfrM Received April 8, 8.30 p.m. Sydney. Tuesday.

Though there is no serious extension of the strike so far but there are several significant developments.

! Sixty fuelmen employed in supplyI ing the engine tenders with coal at Eveleigh struck. The first gang of 20 left without explanation, and two other gango arriving later did not start. Two men only remained working and they were unable to keep up the supply for the engines which are piling up in the yards. The full effect of the development will not be felt till to-morrow, a 8 most of the engines on the night runs have their tenders well coaled. Another mass meeting of the Railwaymen's Association was held to-day. Mr Catts, secretary to the Association, strongly urged the men to accept the Government's offer, which by his efforts had been kept open till noon. He declared the strikers had compelled the Government to grant them a tribunal exceeding in powtr any previouslv available under industrial legislation. Amid much excitement a show of hands was taken resulting in the Government's offer again being rejected.

Mr Catts demanded a ballot, and this resulted similarly.

Mr Catts thereupon intimated he would not attend future meetings in connection with the strike, but would be with them in spirit, and left the meeting.

During the day the Railway Commissioner issued a notification that unless the Darling Harbour goods porters resume before nine to-morrow morning they will be ineligible for reemployment. THE SERVICE DISORGANISED. STEAMER AND WAGGON SERVICE.

Received April 8, 10 p.m. Sydnay, Tuesday. A feature of to-day 'j meeting was the hostility towards Mf Catts. It is alleged the men have become suspicious of his motives, and charge him with acting from personal motives rather than in the interests of the men. The daily produce and firowood sales are practically suspended though large quantities are standing in the trucks and transit is little available. Some stations which are held up the goods include truckloads of decaying vegetables and rabbits, making their mesence offensively evident. Pices so far are little affected. I'here is some excitement in the wheat market. Millers who are unable to take delivery of the grain are prepared to give higher prices to keep the mills going till the trouble is over, but the local suppliers are not large and holders are disinclined to sell. Storekeepers in country towns are arranging for supplies by steamer or teams. The Hon. Mr McGowen, owing to the strike, has cancelled his proposed visit to Albury to-morrow.

DUPLICATE STRIKE COMMITTEE. ROYAL COMMISSION PROMISED. Received this day, 9.20 a.m. Sydney, This Day. The striking shunters have called out all shunters in the metropolitan area. A duplicate strike committee hag been appointed to replace the committer in the event of the latter being gaoled. It waa decided also if the duplicates were arrested that another set should be appointed. The Railway Workers and General Labourers' Union, whereto belong the strikers at the coal staging, favours resumption. The executive of that union passed a resolution to the effect that the Wages Board system should be remodelled. The chairman should not be allowed to sit at more than one board. All awards should be retrospective from the date of filing claimß since undue delay in reaching finality was the cause of the present unrest in New South Wales, and tends to bring arbitration into disfavour with the workers.

Mr Carmichael states a Royal Commission will be appointed, there being many industrial matters requiring inqviiry.