SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 243, 4 March 1913, Page 5

SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

POSIT [ox UNALTERED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, March 3. The position in the gas strike is unaltered. Mr. Carniiehael's offer remains open until this afternoon. Last night many suburban churches held services ill ( the open air. Fifty of those who answered the North Shore Company's advertisement have been taken on. and the company is striving strenuously to restore supplies. A thousand homes which were using gas cookers are suffering extreme inconveni- ' er.ee and getting makeshift meals only.

DIM RELIGIOUS LIGHT. GENERAL, DISORGANISATION. BACKYARD COOKING. ■Sydney, March 3. Many businesses to-day are greatly hampered from want of gas. A large number of employees are temporarily idle. The churches last night were driven to all sorts of devices, and at the best the services had to be conducted in a truly dim rel i<*ious light. The suburban railway stations were similarly . situated, the few lamps only serving to show up the darkness, i It was a curious spectacle. Where ' the city was usually ringed bv a wide | area of well-lighted streets the pall of ' darkness was punctuated by moving lights, as residents, armed with lanterns, J paid calls or returned from church ser- ! vices. ! Boarding-houses, restaurants and hotels were specially hampered by the rush of their usual customers, augmented by those unable to cook in their hofnes. A good percentage of the suburban houses are unprovided with stores of fuel, and were compelled to prepare their meals on the broiling hot day in the outside air, which was filled with the aroma of cooking dinners from hundreds of back yard fires. Fuel men are reaping a rich harvest, and are unable to fill demands even at advanced prices. The decision of to-day's conference is anxiously awaited, as unless an early settlement is reached the situation will be really serious. APPEAL TO TEE PUBLIC. THE MEN'S ULTIMATUM. Received 3. 8.55 p.m. Sydney, March 3. The gas strikei'3 have rejected Mr. Carmichael's offer, which wasi left open until two o'clock. Mr. McGowen has issued a procfamation, calling on the citizens to meet the public interest by aiding the Government to keep order and by securing a I gas supply for the public. (Three thousand workers in the -ooot trade have been compelled to cease work j owipg to there being no gas to run the I machines. J A mass meeting of the men aecided to resume work immediately on the following terms; That the companies agree to cancel the agreement; that the companies and the union jointly apply to the Court for a Wages Board; that the companies agree to offer no opposition to a shilling a day increase; j that the companies sign these terms before a resumption of ivork; that the award of the Wages Board be retrospective from Friday. THE MEN'S TERMS REJECTED. Received 4. 1.30 a.m. Sydney, March 3. The gas companies have rejected the men's terms, but have submitted a scheme for the resumption of work. The men. however, rejected this. It is believed that the men are still negotiating with the Australian Gaslight Company, though the chairman of the North Shore Company declares that the negotiations have been broken off.