THE STRIKE SPIRIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1073, 23 July 1912, Page 4

THE STRIKE SPIRIT.

Two remarkable manifestations of the spirit of strike have to be chronicled. Both have taken place in Victoria. At a conference of farmers held at Keraug there was brought forward a prosposal that all farmers should cease work for 12 mouths, only growing enough to feed themselves and their families- The motive underlying this proposal, which was of the nature of very advanced imitation of unionist methods, was to give an emphatic combined reply to the increasing demands by organised rural workers for higher wages, and at the same time mark disapproval of the ways of the judge of the Federal Arbitration Court. There was just enough discussion on the scheme to secure very strong expressions as to the desirableness of fanners banding themselves together. However, the thing was regarded as sufficiently serious by several big newspapers to call for articles pointing out that to try to bring about a general stoppage of production would be a most miscbievious business. A Flinders Lane warehouse in Melbourne advertised for a j'outh to be employed in the packingroom. In response a crowd of some 5c young fellows assembled around the door of the warehouse by the appointed time. Somebody suggested that an agreement should be come to concerning the minimum wage at which the position would be accepted. Notwithstanding the number of applicants the minimum wage proposition suddenly launched found ready acceptance with a large number. The manager of the warehouse came out and invited six of the most likely looking ol the applicants to come into his office, it happened that all the six had agreed to the proposal that they should ask for not less than 35s a week. But one of them told the manager that he would accept £l. He got the position. When he came outside again he was set upon and struck about the face aud head amid abusive cries. The £1 a week man was having a very bad time when the cry of “Police” was heard. It was a false cry, but it saved him.