GAS WORKERS OUT AGAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5299, 11 January 1947, Page 5

GAS WORKERS OUT AGAIN

(Press Assn.^a.

SYDN'EY HEAVILY HIT bitter attack on ! supine premier

Rec. 9.30 v.m.)

SYDNEY, Jan. 10. Two-thirds of Sydney was suddenly deprived of gas last liight because of the decision by lf'O shift workers at the Govern-ment-controlled Mortlake gas works to strike again. Supplies failed in 300,000 homes. Rationing has been hastily reintrociiiced to eonserve supplies of gas issued by the Manly and korth Shore companies, which s rve the remainder of the resi-(b-nts of Sydney and suburbs. Yesterday's decision took union officials completely by surprise, 'as a mass meeting of 2000 gas workers on j Monday decided against immediate Miike action. Trades Hall officials say the strike action is a coup engincered by the Communist element in the union. The Premier, Mr. \Y. J. McKell, stated that he had arranged to meet union representatives to-day. An offirial nohiinated hy the strikers said the view was that the Government had not yet honoured its promise to have the men's elaims discussed. Police are standing by to maintain law and order in the gas works. In a bitter leading article headed "No ,guts, so no gas," tbe Sydney Telegrapb says: "To blame tbe gas men, the transport workers. the butchers and the dairymen is all very well, but it gets you nowhere. It is tbe fault of Mr. McKell, this leader of

the State, this prospective GovernorGeneral, this statesman. What is he doing ? Just what he has done in cvery crisis the State has faced keeping his mouth shut and his hands behind his back. "He commands every power of law. There is nothing he could order for the purpose of maintaining public services which the people would not obey and endorse. But he has not the courage to give the order." The gas dispute which has led to strikes in three States developed on November 30 when memhers of the union banned overtim'e and week-end work. Strikes in Sydney. Melbourne and Adelaide began on December 12, and six days later the Sydney strikers sueceeded in closing the Mortlake j works down. The strikes eontinued in -Melbourne and Adelaide, but following tbe appointment of a State administrator and other agreements, the Sydney workers resumed on Do- j ; omber 21.