SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 244, 5 March 1913, Page 5

SYDNEY GAS STRIKE.

I LORD MAYOR VOLUNTEERS HIS SERVICES. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright Sydney, March 4. The Premier's (Mr. Mcdowell's) pro cl,'unation .sets out that a fair and reasonable proposal from the ( lovernment for the settlement of the strike having been refused by the men. and the welfare of the general public being jeopardised, he, as head of the Government; with the advice, of his colleagues, is calling upon citizens to meet the public necessity by aiding the Government to keep order and secure a gas supply. The Lord Mayor Ims issued an appeal for volunteers to assist the companies to maintain a supply of gas. He says that his concern is that the community are being made the victims of an industrial disturbance, which the State laws specially provide shall be dealt with in another manner. All the trouble was precipitated without a note of warning or an opportunity being given of providing temporary substitutes. He oilers himself to work for four hours daily as a volunteer. SHORTENING THE ''GAS" AT A BANQUET. Sydney, March t. Speaking at Lord Chelmsford's farewell banquet in the Town Hall, the Chief .Justice referred to the short toasts. He said there had been inevitably an absence of gas. The Lord Mayor said: "You may be asked to-morrow. 'Shall there be light';' T want you to reply in an imperative word. 'Let there be light!' and back your opinion by your actions." A MASS MEETING. Sydney. March 4. Mr. Peter Bowling, secretary of the Tllawapra Coal Miners' Union, attended the strikers' mass meeting, and subsequently stated that lie had been instructed bv his union to form » combination of wharf laborers, coal lumpers, gas employees and coal miners to beat the bosses. AN OMINOUS THREAT. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROCLAMATION. Sydney. March 4. So far very few free laborers have started work. The police are present in strong force to protect any offering. All approaches are picketed and large crowds of strikers ure about. Everything is quiet, and there is no attempt, at interference beyond persuasion. The strikers are sore at ail alleged promise having been given by the Government to provide men for the North Shore Company. Ominous rumors of an extension of the trouble are afloat and the men claim that if any determined attempt is made to start with free labor, the electrical employees will strike, and the fact that non-unionist clerks and other employees of the companies are now handling coal must, result in the coal lumpers and wharf laborers joining in the strike** Mr. Carniichael. Minister of Public Inspection. interviewed, said he was anxious to sec the trouble ended. Events did not snggest a settlement pending, for as far as the Government was concerned, it had absolutely concluded its negotiations with the men. The attitude of the Government was clearly defined in Its proclamation. In other quarters it was questioned whether the proclamation would be effective, as it was thought that it should be given Cabinet endorsement. Tt. had not yet I received executive authority.

TRADES AFFECTED. Sydney. March 4. Besides the boot trade, many other trades have heen directly affected, a hundred men being rendered idle. I'nless a settlement is made to-day. the numbers will be greatly augmented. Clothing manufacturers state that they have to close, thus {Uowinjr 5000 persons out of work. The printing and other trades where gas is eihploycd have been seriously handicapped. Four hundred working' jewellers are out. The Australian Gaslight Company is advertising tor a tliousand men, and the North Shore Compunv for four hundred men to fill the places of the strikers. The Inspector-General of Police is taking steps to adequately police the city and suburbs and provide protection for the men replacing the strikers. The inspector is drafting many additional police from the country. The North Shore Company has adopted a firm stand, and has decided not to negotiate further until the men resume It has been suggested by the unions that the refusal of the directors to accept the men's proposal has a legal aspect. Under the Gas Act they could pass on to consumers a proportion ol the extra cost of wages rosultinf through the Wages Board awards, bul still they would have to 5, through thf formality of getting the sanction of ii judge to such a step, and the companies are afraid they will not be able to maki good their ease before J judge, that tin increase, which will represent abonl £20.000, had been foi :ed upon them bj the Wages Board. STRIKERS QFTET. BUT FIRM. ' PUBLIC MEETING CALLED. A SPIRITED LORD MAYOR. Received 4, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, slarc.li 4. The situation has undergone littl change to-day. The strikers are mark ing time, and state that there will b no" developments as far as they are con cerned until the employers re-open negc tiations. It is reported that seventy free laboi ers have been taken on at the Australia Gaslight Company's city works, an forty by the North Shore Company, bu they are inexpert, and the productio of gas is very slow. It has taken th North Shore Company almost three day to produce twenty-four hours'_ suppb If the present rate of production cot

tinucs, it is unlikely that the service wil> be renewed for some days, unless the unexpected happens —the strikers return to work or sufficient volunteers offer to ! moro fully man (lie work for a snllicient j development. I Eightv eoal lumpers engaged on three colliers unloading for the gas companies ceased work, and declared that they would not work the coal if free laborers were to make the gas. Large numbers of strikers spent the day in the vicinity of Die works. Thev were orderly and <|iiiet, only chaffing any free laborer or supposed free laborer who made his appearance. A hundred country police have already reached the city, and others are in readiness if required. A special meeting of the executive of the Labor Council has been called to discuss the relation of the gasmen's action to other unions. After a. Cabinet meeting this morning to discuss the position. Ministers declared that tlio.v had nothing to disclose. : ,The Lord Mayor has called a public

meeting in the Town llull at noo , to-morrow, with a view to obtaining a I expression of public opinion and restoi ing the supply of gas to the community j He will appeal for volunteers to go wit him to lielp to work. He ia not, he say: going to ask anyone to do anythin. which he is not prepared to do himsel! The Lord Mayor has the backing of th heads of mercantile and other bodies. THE COMMUNITY INTENSE!). DEMAND FOR LEGISLATION. Received -1. 10.0.j p.m. Sydney, March 4. The Lord Mayor is receiving nianj offers of volunteers from all classes as tiie situation becomes more acut< through the increasing'dcadloek of business consequent oil the shortening o1 hands. It is threatened that there will be a further shortening on a much more extensive scale if the victimisation of the community is allowed to continue. The press and public, while commending Mr. McGowen's manifesto, demand a prompt measure enforcing the paramountcy of the interests of the community. THE MEN JUSTIFIED. Received 5, 1 a.m. Sydney, March 4. While condemning the strike, a big section of the public consider the gasmen justified in demanding a shilling advance. A meeting of the executive of the Labor Council advised that all unions should not participate in any action against non-unionists without consulting | the Council: