AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 115, 13 May 1903, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

Strikers Wives Join the Fray. Inaction of Police. i , _____ 4 1 Government Proclamation Against Mobs. 3 Yj ..I'M ! TESTING APPLICANTS. 8 3 ——- » The Strikers' Manifesto. b i. , -e f (Per United Press Association.)

s Melbourne, May 12, , A large lumber of strikers' wives 'ooxpait i i the demonstra'.ion at the • No i h Melbourne yards, with the o' jeot 9 of overawing applic in's for work. Trie women, many of whom were armed 3 wi h sicks and stones, were especially ] ex ited, and were with difficulty prevented from doing personal violeuce. b A noticeable feature of Saturday f night's scrimmage at Nor.h Melbourne was that the police refrained from taking action. Complaints on tbi's heid 3 lead to the suspension of three cjn- - stables. J So far there hive been 450 appli--1 cants as drivers and firemen. They are being examined, and 200 have been ii engaged. t The Government has placed a porr> tiou of the tide to Nor tin Melbourne n under speeiil protection for the pui pose of training drivers, and will ssortly considerably augment the numbers thereby. n The Premier staUd that very many y men had placed their services at the disposal of the Government in til l, capacities, and the Government were 1 carefully testing their qualifications. 3 The country lines would be got to work 2 as early as pos ible. 6 Arrangements have been made to 5 enrol special constables. 4 The signalmen and associated rail--2 way employees state that they have no 9 intention of earning out at present, but are standing by awaiting developments. The members of the execu ives of Societies affiliated to the Trades Hull who have not informed the Commissioner before to-morrow night that tbey have resigned office, will be removed 0 from the service. The Government last night issued a . proclamation warning people, under - penalty of the law, cot to assemble in • the streets or neighbourhood of railway station yards, and calling up;n the public to assist in the maintenance of lawando:der, Most of the members of Parliament seized the opportunity to come to town on Friday, before'the block came, in readiness for the opening of Parliament on Wednesday. What exictly will occur cannot be predicted, but there is r a very general opinion that the Gov- ' ernment will be very strongly supported 1 in the action it has taken> The strikers' executive has issued a r manifesto to tbe voters of Victoria setj ting out that, tbey had submitted to a ( reduction in wages and to deprivation . of certain rights rather than inconi venienoe tbe public, but they were now 3 compelled to rebel against the attempt ! to take from them liberty of action - under the law. Thay ask what other . course was open to them, and state that " the whole blame rests with au unwise Government who converted one of the most law-abiding bodies in the State into a revolt." Tbe manifesto concludes that " if the Government will only suggest any reasonable proposition, they will find us reasonable. We have proved our strength." EFFEOT ON RKVENUE. PICKETING. MOTION OF PUBLIC BODIES, Meldoucnb, May 12. The railway revenue for the week ended Thursday was £3900 lets than for the corresponding week last year, The express which left Adelaide on Friday after many vicissitudes reached BalUrat yesterday, Despite the leaders' statement that picketing is not necessity, it is being resorted to to a considerable extent. All kooivn applicar.ts for work are intorviewtd and efforts made to induce them to join the strike. Many influential public bodies in the various States have adopted resolutions condemning tli > strike and sympathising with the Government. A meeting of Melbourne University undergraduates carried a resolution expressing confidence in the Government and their determination to assist in any capacity. Subsequently many oft'ared their services on the railway ia any oipacity, It is understood that the whole question of the strike will bj discussed when Parliament meets. A short bill will ba introduced dealing with the question of public servants and affiliation to poli-ical bodies. IMPROVED SERVICE. DISTRESS AT COUNTRY TOWNS. FAMINE PKIOES. ' __ J Received 12,10.35 p.m. 1 Meluoubnk, May 12, ■ To-day's suburban and country ser- < vices both show slight improvement on 1 that of yeiterday, all trains getting iway fairly well o:i time. Distress ie already felt at some country towns owing to irhortage of provisiun*, famine pric:s ruling at a good many places. The peisistent rumors current that there was a likelihood of tbe marine engineers joining ci.o strike prove un- f foundeJ. Such a proceeding would not ? be countenanced by the association 1 du iug thy proieni struggle, 8 DAILY-PAID MSN SEOiIDE. 1 FUND FOR LOYAL MKN. * ADELAIDE EXPRESS GETS HOME. c ■ ii Keceivelll.Jo.3sp.nl.' U Melbouhne. May 12. rl The latest development is the d( ci'ion of thi Daily-Paid Uni<.<u, with the a] exception of tha preridtnt and secreiry, to obfy the Gov.srnmen''. lhe Union his according'/ withdrawn fr. m i, itiiliatiou witn the Trades ll,ill. j, A fund ins been Ktarted to »e vird B •no drives uid firomcn wh'» vri-ved V: '.)y .i t:i theG'H'..rniii.?nr.. T'.e f Mifiiulii'.Miiera vo ml £SO <.vmwly to | Ul ha iiuid, members of the Stock Ex- tl

' changes and many others &!so oontris bu'iug. 9 Friday's express from Adelaide comt pleted i s muc'i jntemip'ed jmrney at b mid-day. Tho passongers made a col--1 kc'ion for the d iver, but be declined i to ncci pt it, spying that as an employee • uf the Government he had merely done hi.i duty, and wished for no other j' rewatd. b The exprafs to Albany also got l through nafely this morning. - EXPLANATION OK DAILY PAID UNION. . LKGALIiY OF ORDER TO Blfi TESTED. ' Received 13, 0.24 n.m MsununtiE, May 12. Tho executive of th > daily pud union * makes an explanation as to th< ir withdrawal from the Trades Hull. They ytsterdny wroti (o the Commissioner pointing out that their previous refusal to withdraw was not intended m . insubordination, but bscftvsi ihey were not satiefi d as to the legality «>f hie I order, and sugges'ing tbe difficulty 8 might be met if two of the exicutive | officers were dismissed and the question - legally test- d. A second letter to day infoi med the (Jommia ioner that all tit*' } executive would resign from tbe Trades Ha'l oxcoptiug two, "hose dismissal from the servioe the union intended to j legally test. t 1 lis secretary states the dee'sion was reluctantly armed at after a lengthy consultation and on the advice of their I solicitor. None of the executive des:rdd to return to woik. The dtoiiica r ma tes i" unnecessary for the remainder ! of ho f ieju ive or the general holy of to ceace work, - J STRONG POLICE KOROE ON DUTV. 1 UNDERGRADUATES ON PATBOL. ) TRAINS BETTER PATRONISED. Received !3, 1.21 a.m. ; Meuuubhb, May 12, t Lirge crowds still gather towatoh t the departui e acd arrival of trains, baft ; everything is orderly and quiet. ' Strong bodies of police have keen , brought from the country eo that any attempt at renewal of tbe rowdyism I which' marked the opening scenes ci the strike will bs quickly suppressed. L Many members of the Stock Ex- . change have offered their servioeiM L special couetibks or general assistants , on the railways, A strong body of University under- , graduates is doing patrol work at tin , a a ions. ; All trains are much better pitroa* . ised, many being crowded. Work is being suspended so far as most cf the shipping berthed at til* wharves connected with the railways is , concerned, Three grain-laden vessels i will be taken up the river to discharge. | PRESSING MEN INTO SERVIOA 1 MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. RUMOURED STRIKE OF BIGNALUKN. INTEREST CENTRES IN PARLIiMBNT, Receive 118,0.24 a.m. Stdhbi, Maj.l2tr» - All the available Sydney and Melbourne steamers are beiog utilised for carrying mails. Mblboubnk, May 12. The secretary cf the engineers asserts that lots of men have to!d him a number of big employers are foroing any ' man possessing a knowledge cf machinery to offer bis services to the Riilway Department under piin of dismissal. Received 13.1 &a m Sydnkt, May 12. There is a much more hopeful feeling in commercial civics regarding the strike. Mkl'boubkb, May 12. The city presented a muoh mors lively appearand to-day, and a mors hopeful feeling is prevalent. The action of the daftly-paid union is regarded on the one hand as a seven blow to the strikers, and as an indication that the men are weakening, vtiila on the other hand the strike leaders declare thems rives thoroughly satisfied with the position, the men being firm and as determined as ever. So far as is known enly one Govern* ment driver went over to the striken to day. The chief interest centres in Jhe meeting of Parliament to-morrow, AU needless formalities are to be dispensed with, business being strictly confined to the discussion of railway matters. A strict limit will be enforoed as to the right of strangers to enter the preoinets of the House. It is rumouted to-night that the signalmen havo decided to carry out tbeir intention < f striking.