GRAVE OUTLOOK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 5

GRAVE OUTLOOK

MELBOURNE STRIKE GREAT UPHEAVAL FEARED CITY ALMOST IN TOTAL DARKNESS. ALL IMPORTANT SERVICES AFFECTED. COAL FAMINE THREATENED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—-Copyright (Received June 14. 10.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Juno 14. Tho citv is almost iu total darkness. Flares are being used at tho railway stations and hurricane lamps in the public buildings. Congregations in the churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights. A limited supply, of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable the factories to carry on. Volunteer workers at the gasworks are engaged in getting up a supply. Coal and coke at tho gasworics has been declared ''black," and may not bo removed.

The trouble may extend to the trams, as owing to the employment of a nonunionist driver on one service the men threaten to cease work.

It is also probable that the wharf labourers will refuse to handle coal, for tho gasworks. 0 Tho electric! tram services are suspended, . thousands of the people having to walk to work. the great fear at present is for tho sewerage if tho engineers of this service carry the threat into execution and 'cease work. The dismal outlook is made worse by the fuel 'shortage and the steady rain which set in yesterday. CLAIMS OF GAS WORKERS. PROMPT REFUSAL BY COMPANY. MELBOURNE, June 14. Mr Justice Higgdns, having failed to effect «• compulsory conference, stated that the Gas Union had sougnt increases from the companies, which had agreed to an increase of n shillinjr a day, which, in addition to the shilling increase in December, made twelvo shillings increase per week since May Ist, 1919. The union wanted another shilling, and the company refused to give it. Unskilled labourers were offered 13s a day, but on tho latest statistics he, if -taking an award, would not feel justified in prescribing so much. STRIKE WILL BE FOUGHT. FROZEN MEAT EXPOSED TO DESTRUCTION. MELBOURNE, June 14. Tho Promior, in appealing to tho public, intimated that the strike will be fought to the end. No section will bo -rmitted to dislocate essential servioes. Meat in' cold storage, to tho value of £1,500,000, is exposed to destruction owing to the withdrawal of electricity for refrigerating purposes. DARK CLOUDS~~LOOMING. EFFORTS TO PREVENT OATAS- ■ TROPHE. (Received Juno 14, 10.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Juno 14. Dark clouds are looming on the industrial horizon, and anything may happen in the next dav or two owing to Melbourne coal Wing declared "black," but union officials are doing their beet to prevent a catastrophe.