INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 36, 7 February 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

BIG FORCE OF POLICE AT BRISBANE. STRIKE ORGANISATION. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.* Brisbane, February C. Some of the- outer environs of the city are in a parlous condition. The means of communication for regular food supplies have been stopped. The city itself is more like normal than it has been for some time. The trams are running, and many shops are open. Lists which were taken by the Strikers’ Vigilance Committee, have boon forwarded to the Trades Hall. The police specials are in possession of the streets, watching the shops to prevent any possible interference, they are patrolling everywhere, strictly enforcing the ‘move-on!” clause.

Two hundred and fifty more mounted men from out back, largely consisting of squatters and tbeir sons, have arrived to augment the Government forces, bringing fifty extra horses, waggons and stores. There are now 2700 foot and 100 mounted specials on duty, besides 800 regular police.

Fifty specials have been despatched to Rockhampton. The strike leaders are busy organising.. They are strictly repressing any attempts at disorderliness. A big force of vigilance officers are patrolling and backing up the leaders’ efforts.

A strike bulletin was issued at midnight, in which it was stated: “The Central Government has gone, and we are, ruled by a horde of irresponsible petty tyrants, who, in addition to striking us down, are prepared to shoot us.”

Coyne states that the strikers have plenty of money coming, sufficient, ,ho says, to last twenty thousand strikers for six weeks.

The bulletin adds that the Tramway Company’s supply of coal must be de* pleted shortly, similarly tho railways’ supply. The are unable to obtain more. Every worker in .Queensland is ready to answer the call out.

A test case came on to-day in which an ex-tramway' employee sued the Tramway Company for wrongful dismissal simply because he was a member of the Tramway Employees’ Association. The case was adjourned till Friday. The Australian Workers’ Union has called out the construction workers on five sections of the railway, and 1500 are idled. .•

The tramways’ coal supply will last three months.

After a visit by the Commisioner to the railway shops 230 men resumed work.

As an ' outcome of the alleged threats of intimidation, the Commissioner obtained the services of a Magistrate and swore in loyalists as special constables and provided them with arms. Including the northern towns and the Chillagoe miners who struck today there are about sixteen thousand out. ‘ p■;,, Q -VI 153 The bulk of the Charters Towers miners have struck. UNION BADGES. Melbourne, February 6. The solicitor to the Tramwaymen’s Association has returned to Adelaide armed with affidavits showing that members of the Adelaide Association were debarred from wearing union badges. It is intended to make these affidavits the basis of an application to the Federal Arbitration Court for a compulsory conference to deal with the Brisbane trouble. SYDNEY BEING BENEFITED. Sydney, February 0. The Australian Workers’ Union has voted £IOOO to the Brisbane strike.

Sydney is indirectly benefiting by the Brisbane strike. Steamers from Melbourne are unshipping the perishable portion of their cargoes, wbicli is taken back. Shipping companies inform intending passengers for Brisbane that there is no guarantee as to when the steamers will leave, and decline to book forward.

Efforts are being made in labour circles to charter a vessel to carry food supplies to the Brisbane strikers.

BUSINESS BEING RESUMED

(Received 7, 9.15 a.m.) Brisbane, February 7. The Employers’ Federation meeting arrived at an understanding for presenting a new problem to promotion of strikes in future. Details were not disclosed, but t'ho meeting determined to retain loyal bands. In defence of the Trades Hall many strikers would be compelled to seek naw avenues of employment. A general strike now exists at Rockhampton. Almost all ports as far as Rockhampton are affected. The strike committee is endeavouring to involve the eastern districts. A general Australian strike is openly advocated. Business, however, is steadily being resumed. Despite the intense heat the employers discarded coats and are working on the wharves and elsewhere assisted by loyal employees. All arc guarded by special constables. COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. (Received 7, 9.15 a.in.) Melbourne, February 7. Mr Justice Higgins, president of the Arbitration Court, has granted the application for a compulsory conference in connection wthe the Brisbane strike on nest Tuesday.

The representatives have been summoned to meet in Melbourne. Mr Prendergast, president of the Victorian Employees Association, has declared that if the Brisbane Tramway Co. defeats the union a motor omnibus company will run and all unionists will boycott the trams. A BIG CONTRIBUTION. (Received 7,9.1 d a.in.) Sydney, February 7. The Australian Workers’ Union conI foronco has voted a thousand pounds for the Brisbane strike. RIOT AT TOWNSVILLE. (Received 7, 9.15 a.m.) Brisbane, February 7. The strike committee has cabled to England, France, Germany, and the United States for assistance. Two policemen at Townsville when arresting a drunken man were attacked by a mo!» of five hundred. They drew their batons and charged the mob, who dispersed. They later rei newed the attack. The Inspector , appeared and the crowd pelted him ’ with stones, wounding all the officers. The inspector drew his revolver causing an instant scatter. THE FEDERAL PREMIER. I (Received 7, 9.15 a.m.) Melbourne, February 7. Mr Fisher has contributed to the strike funds. He expressed the hope that the conference would lead to a ■ settlement. THE WELLINGTON TROUBLE. THE LOSS CAUSED BY THE , STOPPAGE. . Wellington, February 6. , The familiar sound of the cars , greeted, the early risers to-day, the usual service commencing at the sche- . dulo time. , The permanent way car-shed and . power house staffs were kept busy throughout Monday night. There , was a lot to do after a cessation of t five and a half days. The lines were ’ choked with dust and dirt, and the ! special scoop was employed all night [ clearing out the grooves. All the curves had to be greased before they . could be negotiated by the cars, so , dry had they become with their enforced idleness. All the men turned up to wo-I*, with the exception of six, but it is [ considered that "in all probability these men are upon the sick list. , Singularly enough, the weather,. t which was perfect during the period I of the strike, changed to-day, drizzling rain setting in. Suburban. rest . dents were therefore peculiarly fortunate in having tho service restored , to-day. The approximate loss of revenue during the strike period amounted to £2190 11s lOd. The figures are arrived at by a comparison with tho corresponding days of 1911. . The cars stopped running at 2 p.m. on Wednesday last, arid resumed this morning, five and half days’ revenue being lost. The fares collected on Wednesday up to the time the strike commenced totalled £215 Os 9d, while thqre was £471 9s collected on the corresponding day of last year. Although the foregoing represents approximately the loss of revenue, it does not mean that that amount of money is actually lost to the city, and although it is impossible to say at the present time what the actual loss is, a rough idea may be gained by subtracting from the revenue the wages of the men for the strike period. This loss is estimated at between £l7O and £2OO a day, or a total of a little more than £IOOO. On this reckoning the loss to the city , would work out at about £ll9O. The electrical engineer and tramway manager, Mr S. Richardson, is busy at the present time working out the exact figures, and he will submit a report to the Council on the question on Thursday night. There is every probability that the men who participated in the strike, their leaders and prominent supporters will all bo prosecuted under the provisions of the Arbitration Act.

The Labour Department has not yet taken any definite steps in the mat 4 ter beyond making the necessary inquiries and collecting data. This, it is understood, will be submitted to the Minister of Labour in duo course. A FULL PROGRIAiMME. Wellington, February 6. Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, has a number of industrial disputes on hand for settlement. This morning he will leave for Wanganui, where he will hold a sitting to-morrow of the Conciliation Council sot up in connection with the tailoresses’ dispute. The plumbers’ dispute will be considered at Wanganui the following day, at Palmerston on the 12th inst., and at Napier on the 14th. The Commissioner will return to Wellington on the 16th inst. Subsequently the bakers’ and pastrycooks’ dispute at Greymouth will be dealt with. TROUBLES ELSEWHERE. TROUBLES ELSEWHERE. London, February G. The Tilbury dockers have resumed, pending the Board of Trade negotiations with the Thames Committee. The Tnternationl Shipping Federation has resolved not to dismiss its tally clerks. The Greenock dockers’ sympathetic strike has collapsed, owing to insufficient support by the Glasgow union. A NEWCASTLE DISPUTE. I Sydney, February 6. The wharf labourers’ dispute at Newcastle is not yet settled. The

stevedores were granted the Sydney deep-sea rates, but the men demand additional concessions, including 3s per hour overtime. Several steamers are detained. DAMAGE BY VINE-WORKERS. (Received 7, 9.5 a.m.) Paris, February 0. Discontented vine-workers devastat cd eight hundred square metres ot vine at Rillo.