SYDNEY TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 184, 25 July 1908, Page 2

SYDNEY TRAMWAY STRIKE.

THE CLIMAX REACHED. Sydney, July 24. After yesterday's interview between the Tramway Commissioner and the representatives of flic Tramway Employees' Union, a mass meeting of dayshift men was held.

The president announced the decision of : the Commissioners. The Chief Commissioner,, he said, had promised to consider whether they could reorganise the espionage system, but had firmly refused to re-consider a demand for the re-instatenient of the conductor Croucher, who had been dismissed as a result of espionage. The president _of the union, addressing the meeting (from which the press were excluded), said that, while he would not advise a strike, only one course appeared to be open. If they decided to come out il< would not be "on the espionage system only, but on every question of importance affecting the tramway men. He announced that the steam tram drivel's ami the power-house men and members of the electrical stall' would be with them in the event of their striking. A ballot was taken at a late hour.\ It resulted in 1420 voting for and 32/ against a strike, to begin at noon today. 'A meeting of the night-shift me|n takes place.this forenoon, but its decision cannot alter the position, as the number of last night's votes in favor of a strike is more than the whole number of those expected to vote to-day. Although the men propose to leave the trams wherever they happen to be at noon, they will stand by until tlif) 1 department's officers arrive to tane charge, and, 1 should the power-house men participated, they will see tlie cars run into the sheds before leaving their posts.

The Superintendent of Tramways declares tliat if an emergency arose the Commissioners and stall' would be fully prepared and everything, as far as reasonably could be foreseen, would be provided for.

It is understood that the Commissioners Are prepared to make a determined . effort to keep tnc trams running. It is stated that during the last few days forty clerks and tramway officers have beeu receiving instructions as electric tram drivers, and also that the old steam motors have been overhauled with a view to their possible use.

The members of the Tramway Employees' Union number several thousands, but (-hey will not all be directly affected. Other unions affiliated to the Grand Council of Railway mm iramway Employees are the engine-drivers and the liremcii. The total membership is i) 000.

The Grand Council at its last meeting adopted a resolution of sympathy with the tram men and agreed to support their eil'orls to 'have the espionage System abolished. The Trades and Labor Council has also endorsed the men's action.

Later. The strike lias commenced? Finding that some of the men were being relieved of their duty as the cars reached the power-house's, others immediately came out, leaving the trams standing in the streets. All the lines are idle. The cars are being removed to tlhle.: power-houses, large crowds watching the operations.

The decision to strike before th* hour fixed was ,the .outcome of departmental instructions that all ears were to he.returned to the depots before eleven o'clock, so as to obviate the inconvenience of having them left standing in the streets. The Union leaders ordered the men out forthwith. Tlve inspectors, taking the abandoned cars ..back to the sheds, were hooted and jeered at, but otherwise everything was

quiet. i. The meeting of night-shift men unanimously endorsed the strike.

'Busses and cabs are reaping a great harvest, and the ferry services to the suburbs are being increased.

SPASMODIC ATTEMPTS TO WORK THE TRAMS. HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS. POWER-HOUSE MEN COME OUT. TALK OF THE RAILWAY MEN 'STRIKING. Received 25, 0.35 a.m. Sydney, Last Night. The streets to-night were as crowded as on an election night, with a large proportion of the rough element mingling with the merely curious. Since the morning the Sydneyite has been indulging in the novelty of waking, for there is no tram service. One or two spasmodic attempts were, made to run the cars, but the hostile demonstration made it almost impossible for the most loyal employee to stick lo his post. Five arrests lor assault were made during the afternoon, one or two of the victims being treated at the hospitals. At the power-house 250 men came out in sympathy with the conductors. The authorities state that iu some instances the cars have been tampered

with and parts removed. Although the Department had no success in the work of miming the trams to-day, it is stated that their arrangements for to-morrow will provide for a modified service. A rumor is current that the railway men may strike in sympathy. In this case a curious position will be created, paralysing trade. The tram strike nl the worst iulliets inconvenience on individuals living in the remote suburbs. A deputation from the labor Council asked the Premier for an independent board of enquiry into the tramway men's grievances, also for the reinstatement of (.Voucher, over whose dismissal (lie trouble originated. The Premier refused both requests, and said the men had broken the law and would have to return to work before, the (iovernnient's intentions became known or before any promises were made. The tramway men at Broken llill and Newcastle also struck work.