AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 118, 16 May 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES.

GOVERNMENT MABTBR3 0? THE SITUATION, SIGN ALII EN REMAIN ALOOF. MB PRESS ABBOCIATION. Melbourne, May 15. The Premier states that it is not the intention of the Government to pericit all strikers willing to do so to resume duty. The men who came to the assistance of the State, of whom 121 are now actually engaged, did so under a distinct promise tf permanent employment, and their claims were paramount for positions which they suited. From the utterances of the men themselves, it may pretty safely be (aid that there is practically no likelihood of the signalmen joining the strike. The running of country trairs tas to a great extent re-established the po:tal eervice.

A large meeting of sympathisers with the strikers,last night denounced the Strike B;llas a piece of barbarism, unparalleled in British history. Nearly half a million words were sent by the city offices on May 12 r b, lepre'enting .£1153. This is £lB3 better than the previcus day's record. Ore outcome of the itrike is the diverting of a large volume of Yic'orian border traffic to New South Wales. The debate on the Strike Bill was continued throughout the night and is still proceeding. At times the proceedings were lively. Mr Trenwith raid he hoped Parliament would adopt a medium course and end the awful state of things prevailing.

STONEWALLING THE BILL. A FARCIAL DEBATE. Melbourne, May 15. The debate reached a farcical stage, Mr Moloney quoting Ohaucsr end extensively from Bradshaw. Up to breakfast hour members reamed, to have forgotten about the crisis, doing their best to get the mrst amusement possible out of the debate.