THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 188, 7 February 1912, Page 5

THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

VIOLENT STATEMENTS.

THE OUTBREAK SPREADING.

TRAM SERVICE CONTINUED.

■By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Brisbane, February 0. Coyne, addressing the strikers, declued that by night the whole of the shipping of Queensland would be paralysed. He read a telegram, purporting to come from Townsville, stating that the Seamen's Union and fourteen 'other unions were out. He proceeded to say that anyone returning to work before victory was won would be a traitor and be dealt with as a traitor deserved. It was no use their going to any other State, as they would be followed. Employers victimising strikers would also be dealt with. He advised the strikers not to pay rent while on Strike; they must provide food first. Mr. Collings, referring to the last statement, declared that they had no intention of repudiating payment The landlords would be paid when they returned to work after the victory, when there was work for all. A bulletin by the strike committee, states that the special constables are .* being, recruited from the public service by coercion. The tram service continued until early fai the evening. The manager expects to have the normal service in a few days. The difficulties with regard to food supplies are far less acute. Most grocers are. serving customers in the usual way. A few pickets are to be observed, but no interference is attempted.

The extension of the strike to Ipswich was followed by the issue of a proclamation prohibiting unlawful assemblies in that city. At a meeting of the City Council, the Mayor stated that the Council's employees who struck would not be reemployed without his approval. Mem-bers-.of the Rockhampton Typographical Society and butchers will strike on Wednesday.

The Rev. Gibson distributed large quantities of bread to his indigent parishioners. , \ An order bas been issued for the further closing of all hotels at Brisbane till Monday. The mine engine drivers at Charters Towers declared by a large majority that there was no local reason for them to join the strike. A meeting of delegates of the Townsville unions decided to strike. All the shops were closed and the streets crowded. Two constables arrested a man, and the strikers attacked them with sticks and stones, but the police were reinforced, and succeeded in holding the man.

Melbourne, February 6. The Industrial Registrar of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court received two declarations from South Australia in support of a compulsory conference concerning the Brisbane strike. These will be submitted.

Mr. Pearce, referring to the Queensland request for militia, declared that he could not foresee th"e possibility of military interference ever being necessary in connection with industrial matters in Australia, so convinced is he that the good sense of the peon'c will always prevail. Brisbane, February 6. The Minister of Railways stated that 141 men had returned to worlc at the Ipswich workshops. Sydney, February 6. A meeting of the United Laborers' Protective Society decided that, m me event of any Brisbane strikers being ■hot down, they would support a general strike of all the workers in Australia.

ORDERLY PROCEEDINGS. THE TOWN PATROLLED BY POLICE. THE STRIKERS COWED. SOME RAILWAY WORKERS CALLED OUT. Received 6, 9.30 pjn. Brisbane, February G. Some of the outer environs of the city are in a parlous condition. The means of communication for regular food supplies hare been stopped. The city itself is more like normal than it has been for some time. The trams are running, and many shops are open. lists which were taken by the Strikers' Vigilance Committee have been forwarded to the Trades Hall. The police specials are in possession of the streets, watching the shops to prevent any possible interference. They are patrolling everywhere', strictlv enforcing the "move-on!" clause. Two hundred and fifty more mounted men from out back, largely consisting of squatters and their sons, have arrived to augment the Government forces, bringing fifty extra horses, waggons and stores.

There are now 2700 foot and 400 mounted specials on duty, besides 800 regular police.

Bifty specials have been despatched to Bockbampton. The strike leaders are busy organising. They are strictly repressing any attempts at disorderliness. A big force of vigilance officers are patrolling and backing up the leaders' efforts.

A strike bulletin was issued at midnight, in which it was stated: "The Central Government has gone, and we arc ruled by a horde of irresponsible petty tyrants, who. in addition to striking us down, are prepared to shoot us." Coyne states that the strikers have plenty of money mining, sufficient, he says, to last twenty thousand strikers for six weeks.

The bulletin adds that the Tramway Company's supply of ooal must be depleted shortly, similarly the railways' supply. They are unable to obtain more. Every worker in Queensland is ready to answer the call out.

A test case came on to-day, in which

an ex-tramway employee sued the Tramway Company for wrongful dismissal, simply because he was a member of the Tramway Employees' Association. The case was adjourned till Friday.

The Australian Workers' Union has called out the construction workers on five sections of the railway, and 1500 are idled.

Sydney, February 6. The Australian Workers' Union has voted £IOOO to the Brisbane strike.

Sydney is indirectly benefiting by the Brisbane strike. Steamers from Melbourne are unshipping the perishable portion of their cargoes, which Is taken back. Shipping companies inform in-, tending passengers for Brisbane that there is no guarantee as to when the steamers will leave, and decline to book forward.

Efforts are being made in labor circles to charter a vessel to carry food supplies to the Brisbane strikers.

TRAMWAYS' AMPLE COAL SUPPLY. RAILWAYMEN RESUME. GUARDING AGAINST INTIMIDATION. Received 6, 11.15 p.m. Brisbane, February 6. The tramways' coal supply will last three months. After a visit by the Commissioner to the railway shops 230 jpen resumed work. As an outcome of the alleged threats of intimidation, the Commissioner obtained the services of a Magistrate and swore in loyalists as special constables and provided them with arms. Including the northern, towns and the Chillagoe miners wlio .struck (o-day there are about sixteen thousand out.'

SYMPATHETIC MIXERS. ! Received 7, 1 a.m. Brisbane, February 6. The bulk of Ihs Charters Towers miners have struck. UXIOX BADGES. COMPULSORY CONFERENCE LIKELY. Received 7, 1 a.m. Melbourne, February 6. The solicitor to the Tramwaymen's Association has returned to Adelaide armed with affidavits showing that members of the Adelaide Association were debarred from wearing union badges. It is intended to make these affidavits the basis of an application to the Federal Arbitration Court for a compulsory conference to deal with the Brisbane trouble.