THE AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 August 1917, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

The cablegrams" are still silent on the-subect of the big strike in New South Wales over the institution of the card system in the railway workshops. mail on Monday night last brought the news of the situation up to August 9. A copy of the “Sydney Morning Herald” of August 10 lias since come to hand. The position may be summarised as follows; All the indications pointed to the extension of the strike to a large number of unions. The Labour Council -had appealed to every union in Australia for assistance for the strikers. The Strikers’ Defence Committee -had decided to carry on the fight until the card system was withdrawn A mass meiting of wharf labourers had decided to cease work till the card system was withdrawn; the carters on the wharves -had declined to carry goods "hot '"handled b'y the wharf labourers. AH the South Coast mines had been thrown idle, and the northern mines were expected To follow suit, as only a few were working on August 9. The i crane drivers at Newcastle had join-$ ed the strikers. On the other side of the ledger the Government was standing firm, with public opinion solidly behind it. Train •and tramway services had materially improved. In addition to better passenger services, eight goods trains were running from Sydney to the country districts. A large number of men who had been on strike had returned to work. “Tell your menfolk to go back to work was the reply of the Acting Premier to a deputation from the wives of the striker*

urging the Government to give way,