Brisbane Strike.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 1 February 1912, Page 5

Brisbane Strike.

THE CITY IDLE. RAILWAYS MAY GO OUT. A FIGET TO~A FINISH. By Cable—Prtss Association—Copyright Brisbane, January 31. The Brisbane trams stopped running early last night, and will not run today. Shortly before six last night an order was issued closing the hotels, and they will not be open to-day. Everything is being done to maintain law and order. Arrangements have been made for the supply of bread and milk to go on uninterruptedly, though there will be no delivery of bread, as the carters are participating in the strike.

There are indications that the trouble may spread to the railways. A meeting of the Association was held late last night, at which 500 were present, and it was resolved that members of the association and any other employees who choose shall cease work to-day. The association includes all grades of railway men and a number of signalmen.

Gas and electric supplies so far have not been interfered with, and the companies anticipate no trouble. A number of vessels left partially loaded. In some cases the men's notices do not expire till eight this morning. Many strikers are wearing red ribbons. A Bomber of meetings will be held during the day. A big gathering at daylight' was addressed by Mr. Coyne, MIj.A., and president of the Australian Labor Federation, and other leaders. Mr. Coyne declared that they intended to fight to a finish, and appealed to the strikers to preserve the strictest discipline, keep sober, and preserve order. This was going to be a big business, and those who could not see its i magnitude now would ree it in a week or two. He announced that funds were already coming in freely., jTo-day cables had been despatched all ow the civilised •world on behalf of the sfrikers, and a monster demonstration had been ar- j nnged. , i

To-day the Police Department is receiving /hundreds of applications from men willing to serve as special constables.

, The Premier and Commissioner of Railways have hurriedly returned from Sydney, where fho visiting Ministers worked hard in the interests of a settlement, leaving no stone unturned to secure peace and good order.

The police report that the men's behaviour so far has been excellent. All places of entertainment are closed excepting one. The strikers' executive is extremely busy, sitting continuously. It is reported that some employees are strongly opposed to a general strike. Defections are likely to-day to disclose the full effect of the call out and the extent to which the ukase, has been obeyed. The newspapers are in a serious position. The compositors have to a large extent thrown in their lot with the strikers.

Householders everywhere are busy laying in stocks against the threatened siege.

It is reported that during yesterday one firm sold over £3OO worth of revolvers.

It is stated that the executive of the Railwaymen's Association refused to endorse the resolution in favor of a strike, but the men intend to leave work to-day in spite of the executive.

NEWSPAPERS AFFECTED. TRAIN SERVICE REDUCED. A BIG PROCESSION. HOSTILITY TxTnON-UNIONISTS. Received 81, 10 p.m. Brisbane, January 31. Owing to the call-out by the Typographical Union all the newspapers, excepting the Daily Telegraph 1 , which is a non-union office, are greatly reduced in size.

So far 200 railway men have joined the strikers. The majority of porters at the city and suburban stations, and numbers of signalmen, have absented themselves from duty, but left the signals on the line clear.

Instructions were immediately issued to the stationmasters to take extra precautions for the safety of the travellin<publfc. As a result of the defections in the staff, the passenger service has been reduced.

The engine-drivers, firemen and guards remain loyal, hut it is feared that unless there is an early settlement the whole service will be dislocated.

Excepting the railways, all transport traffic is practically at a standstill.

There was a great gathering of strikers at the Trades Hall in the morning prior to a monster procession. Stirring and confident speeches were delivered by the leaders, who advocated firmness and peace.

The procession was headed by four mounted police and sixty cycling strikers. The police, who were largely reinforced from the country districts, lined the route. The newspaper office and shops where members of the Shops Employees' Union, who declined to join the strike, are employed, came in for hos\ tile demonstrations. Otherwise the procession was orderly.

The socialistic red ribbon was largely in evidence amongst the processionists. A big crowd watched and cheered. INTERVENTION OF MB. FISHER ASKED FOR. NEGOTIATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT PROCEEDING. RAILWAYMEN WARNED. Received 31, 11.20 p.m. Sydney, January 30. Mr. Finlayson, member for Brisbane, has wired to Mr. Fisher. Federal Prime Minister: "Can nothing be done to summon a compulsory conference? The situ-

ation is rapidly becoming alarming. The city ia excited and business paralysed. Serious trouble is expected. Wire as early as possible." Mr. Fisher, commenting on the strike, said he was sorry a strike had been found necessary. In his opinion it should never have been.

Cabinet has held lengthy meetings considering the position, and negotiations with the Tramway Company and the strike leaders are Btill progressing. Mr. Bowman, leader of the Opposition, announced that the company was pre pared' to take back its employees and allow them to wear badges, but would not recognise the union. This was unacceptable to the men, who insist on recognition of the union. Three hundred railwaymen are out. The Minister of Railways, has given them till noon on Friday to resume. Failingthis, he,will fill their places, declaring he is able to maintain fairly satisfactory services.

FURTHER STRIKES. \ MANY ACTIVITIES CEASE. HOTELS MAY CLOSE. SPECIAL POLICE FORCE. Received \l, I a.m. Brisbane, January 31. The butchers' shops are closed. Two of the strike leaders asked the Commissioner of Police to close the hotels during the trouble. The Commissioner thought it premature to close them, but, if necessary, he would do so. Numbers of hotels have voluntarily closed, chiefly owing to their employees joining the strikers. The Premier, in an interview, said the Government had done all that was possible to arrange a settlement, :-.nd had failed. They would maintain order at any cost. With this object the police had been augmented and a large body of specials sworn in.

The Licensed Victuallers' Association have asked the Premier to dose all hotels and wineshops, and an order has been issued that in the event of lawlessness this will be done, and will apply both to the city and suburbs.