GAS STRIKE IN SYDNEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 53, 4 March 1913, Page 5

GAS STRIKE IN SYDNEY.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright., (Uuited Press Association.) Sydney, March 3. Many businesses to-day are greatly hampered by the gas strike, and a| large number ol employees are tem-j porarily idle. The churches last night were driven to all sorts of devices, and at the best the services had to be conducted in a truly “dim religious light-” The suburban railway stations are similarly situated, infrequent lamps only serving to show up the darkness make a curious spectacle. Where the city is usually ringed with a wide area of well lighted streets, there is a pall of darkness, punctuated by moving lights as the residents armed with lanterns paid calls or returned from the church services. Boardinghouses, restaurants, and hotels are specially hampered; the rush of usual customers is augmented by those who are unable to cook at their homes. A good percentage of suburban houses do not provide fuel stoves and the residents are compelled to prepare the meals on a broiling hot day. Outside the air is filled with the aroma of cooking dinners from hundreds of backyard fires. Fuel men are reaping a rich harvest, and are unable to fill demands even at advanced prices. The decision of to-day’s conference is anxiously awaited, and unless an early settlement is reached, the situation will be really serious. APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. 1 The gas strikers have rejected Mr Carmichael’s offer, which was left open until two o’clock. Mr McGowen has issued a proclamation, calling on the citizens to meet the public interest by aiding the Government to keep order and by securing a gas supply for the public. Three thousand workers in the boot trade have been compelled to cease work owing to there being no gas to run the machines. A mass meeting of the men decided to resume work immediately on the following terms: —That the companies I agree to cancel the agreement; that [ the companies and the union jointly ; apply to the Court for a Wages Board ; that the companies agree tv. offer no opposition to a shilling a day increase; that the companies, sign these terms before a resumption of work; that the award of the Wages Board be retrospective from Friday. THE MEN’S TERMS REJECTED. The gas companies have rejected the men’s terms, but have submitted a scheme for the resumption of work. The men, however, rejected this. It is believed that the men are still negiotiating with the Australian Gaslight Company, though the chairman of the North Shore Company declares that the negotiations have been broken off. PREMIER’S PROCLAMATION. LORD MAYOR IN THE STOKEHOLE. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Sydney, March 4. The Premier (Mr McGowen) by a proclamation, sets out that as a fair and reasonable proposal from the Government for settlement having been refused by the men, and the welfare of the general public being jeopardised, he, as head of the Government, with the advice of his colleagues, calls on the citizens to meet the public necessity by aiding the Government to keep over and secure a gas supply. The Lord Mayor has issued an appeal for volunteers to assist the companies to maintain a supply. He says bis concern is the community, who are being made the victims of an industrial disturbance which the State laws specially provide shall be dealt with in another manner. All trouble was precipitated without a note of warning oi; opportunity for providing temporary substitutes. He, himself, offers to work four hours daily as a volunteer. PROTECTIVE MEASURES. PETER BOWLING IN THE LIMELIGHT, (Received 9.45 a.m.) Sydney, March 4. So far, very few free labourers have started. The police are present in strong force to protect any offering. All the approaches are picketed. There are large crowds of strikers about, but everything is quiet, and there is no attempt at interference beyond persuasion. Strikers are sore at the alleged promise given by the Government to provide men for the North Shore Company, and there are ominous rumours of an extension of the trouble. The men claim that if any determined attempt is made to start free labor, the electrical employees will strike, and the fact that non-unionist clerks and other employees of the companies are now handling coal must result in the coal lumpers and wharf laborers joining. The Hon. Mr Carmichael, in an interview. said that anxious as he was to see the trouble settled, events did not suggest that a settlement was pending. As far as the Government was concerned, it had absolutely concluded its negotiations with the men. The attitude of the Government was clearly defined in the proclamation. Other quarters questioned whether the proclamation was effective, as. though it had been endorsed by Cabinet it had not received executive authority. Peter Bowling, secretary of the Alla warra Coal Miners’ Union, attended a strikers’ mass meeting, and subs'e-

quently stated that ho had been inj structed by his union to form a combination of wharf labourers, coal lumpers, gas employees, and coal miners to beat the bosses. ■ “LET THERE BE LTGT.” Speaking at Governor Chelmsford’s farewell banquet in the Town Hall, the Chief Justice referred to the short toasts, and said they had been inevitable owing to an absence of gas. The Lord Mayor said: “You may be asked to-morrow, Shall there be light? 1 want you to reply in imperative words—“ Let there be light,—and hack your opinions ivith your actions.” MANY TRADES AFFECTED. REPLACING THE STRIKERS AND POLICING THE CITY. (Received 9.25 a.m.) Sydney, March 4. Besides the boot trade, many other trades are directly affected and hundreds are idle. Unless there is a settlement to-day the numbers will be greatly augmented. The .clothing manufacturers state that they will have to close, throwing out 5000. The printing and other trades where gas is employed are seriously handicapped. Four hundred working jewellers are out. The Australian Gaslight Co. are advertising for 1000 and the North Shore Co. for 400 men to fill the places of the strikers. The Inspector-General of Police is taking steps to adequately police the city and suburbs and provide protection for the men replacing the strikers, and is drafting many additional police from the country. The North Shore Co. has adopted a firm stand and will not negotiate further until the men resume. It is suggested by the unions that the refusal of the directors to>accept tho men’s proposals has a legal aspect. Under the Gas Act, they could pass on to the consumers, a proportion of the extra cost of wages resulting from the Wages Board awards, but still have to go through the formality of getting the sanction of a Judge to such a step, and the companies are afraid they will hot be able to make good their case before the Judge, and that the increase, which represents about £26,000, had been forced upon them by the W ages Board.