THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1008, 17 February 1912, Page 4

THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

Brisbane, Feb. 14. The police patrols to-day consisted of ordinary force. Members ot several unions have been openly releas-ed from the strike bond, but Mr Coj ne, the strike leader, declines to say upon what terms. Employers generally are taking men back and asking no questions.

The strikers are quiet. Tremendous crowds gathered at the Trades Hall, but no announcement was made. The strike committee has not betrayed it’s trump card promised tor Wednesday. The Newcastle Dabour Council considered a request to join a general strike, but decided that such action would not assist the Brisbane unions. Brisbane, Feb. 15. The strike committee issued an order that certain butchers and bakers should return to work. Consequently they presented themselves tor work under Trades Hall permits. Some of the masters recognise the permits, but others decline to take the men back. This is the first open test of the preference to unionists issue. All the big employers are holding out, and the Employers’ Federation declares that it will stick to 11011u nionists. A stick ol dynamite was found wedged in the tramway points, No detonator was attached, but the weight ol a tram would have exploded it if it had not been tor its timely discovery. A meeting of Mackay wharf labourers decided to resume. The Bundama miners have resolved to stand firm, and not to return until the whole of the other unions do.

In reply to a question as to whether negotiations had been opened by tlie Employers’ Federation, it having been suggested that the Unions might be met in a conciliatory spirit, Mr Coyne said be believed so and hoped so. but the strike committee would insist as a conditio 11 ot settlement that all unionists be reinstated.