Breaking the Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 259, 25 March 1913, Page 5

Breaking the Strike

THE SYDNEY JERRIES. GOVERNMENT STEPS IX. BUNS ITS OWN SERVICES. OVER 100,000 TEOPLE AFFECTED. By Cable-Press Association-Copyright. Received .23, 5.5 p.m. mi , , Sydney, March 23. 1 hough the strike is apparently - no bearer settlement, the situation is nue?ed so far as the public is concerned, Me Labor Government stepping in as and running a limited emergency service, carrying passengers „• T Jj e vessels employed are the a^° T steamers and launches. After conferring with both sides and * subsequent Cabinet meeting vester«»y, Mr. Carmichael submitted a proposal to the companies that the men resume immediately upon the terms of the existing agreement, provided the companies instruct their representatives on the Shipping Board to concede the claims Pending before the Wages Board for a 48 hours week, and that there be no victimisation of any kind, all the men to be replaced in their former positions. Tne.companies rejected the proposal. During the afternoon Mr. Carmichael announced that he had made a proposal, which he believed would prove acceptable both to the companies and the men, but the companies turne-1 it down without submitting a counter proposal. Therefore, in order to meet the urgent public necessity, the Government ha<f decided to use the whole of the boats at its disposal on the various routes. The first of the Government steamers Were put on late in the afternoon, and •race then have continued to make Tegiilar trips. As soon as tho=e engaged in the scratch sen-ices heard of the Govern tnent's intention their charges dropped from Is 6d to 3d, as the run was more direct than the Government's service, which lands the North Sydney traffic at Tort Macquarie. _ The scratch services are still receiving a fair amount of support, though competing against the free boats. The rich harvest they have made during the last couple of days has been greatlv cnrtailed.

The manager of the Sydney Ferries states that after turning down Mr. Carmichael's proposal, the companies sent him a letter stating that they were making their best efforts to run at least emergency services, and asking Government assistance in the shape of •competent men to run some of their steamers and provide protection to the men on the boats put on to Manly. The men relented to some extent on Saturday afternoon, and agreed to allow two steamers to make eight trip, «;, to •seven at night, chiefly for the eciuenience of residents. The concession came too late for many excursionists to take advantage of it, but it proved acceptable to large numbers of passengers who voyaged early in boats before the strike started and became stranded at both ends.

After knocking off at night the men decided not to run the boats to-day. It is doubtful if they will resume on Monday. Manly has suffered more than any other place by the strike, as the place attracts enormous crowds at holiday times. This year it is almost deserted. The strikers are uncertain as to their •action. Crowds gathered at the wharves in the hope of the boats being kept going. After tedious waiting they were disappointed until the Government cut in. The private services did a roaring trade. It is estimated that some of the larger launches earned two to three hundred pounds a day. The strikers show no resentment against the privite and Government competition. and are even prepared to asl eist. Like the public, however, they are a bit sore over the htaxv tariffs the private boats charged. A good story is told of some strikers who live across the harbor. Objecting to pay sixpence to reach their home-, they threatened to return to work in preference to being fleeced. Before starting the regular service the

Government utilised the Nortli Sydney horse ferry in carrying passengers, but after a few trips the Ferrymen's Union, whereof the captain is e member, called liim out of the punt and stopped the ferry's running. The stoppage resulted in great inconvenience to tradesmen and private vehicles having business across the harbor.

Altogether over sixty ferry steamers -are idle. The Government have thirteen vessels capable of carrying in all about 1300 passengers, besides two old ferry steamers, which they are hiring at present. Tbey are concentrating their efforts on the North Sydney and C'remorne traffic, but, as opportunities offer, facilities will be extended. It is estimated the strike affects nearly a hundred thousand residents dependent on the ferries. Sydney. March 22. The Manly men, after running a few trips, tied up the steamers and joined the ranks of the strikers. The whole service is now at a standstill. The public is now taking a more philosophical view of the situation, accepting the disabilities good humoredly. The launch services are better organised, and are fairly well competing for the traffic To-dav a roundabout vehicular traffic partially relieved the situation. COPING WITH THE TRAFFIC. RUMORS OF SYMPATHY STRIKE*. Received 24. 12.25 a.m. Sydney, March 24. The Government strainers easily accommodated to-day's limited travelling public. Easter Monday is probably the heaviest traffic dav of the year, and the business rush later in the week will provide a much harder proposition. Various rumors of possible sympathy strikes are current. PINCH BADLY FELT. UNIVERSAL DISORDER. Sydney. March 22. The ferry strike' affected the attendance at the show materially. It is estimated that the services hung up yesterday carry 45,000 people on a public holiday. North Sydney was the most seriously inconvenienced. The pinch was badly felt this morning, when a hundred workers were blocked from reaching their employment by the usual route-. The reason that the Manly men did not join the strike yesterday was that thev are members of a different union and were not informed of the strike until a large number had been carried to the seaside resort. The men were prepared to come out at noon, but. influenced by the appeal of the company's officials.* agreed to see the holidaymakers back home. According to present intentions they will join the strike to-dav. The whole ferry services will then be stopped. A special meeting of the Cabinet was called in the forenoon, to consider tfcr

situation. Mr. McCowen declined to make a statement as to the Government's intentions till after the meeting. The manager of the Sydney ferries state* that tue men's claims aggregate an extra cosi jf .t2H,OUI> for that company alone.

Some distant river suburbs organised scratch services, but only partially met the inconvenience.

Besides holiday-makers, many policemen, tramwaymen and others 'who are compelled to work during the holidays were stuck up, and were hours behind time in getting to their posts. The harbor presented the unusual spectacle of flotillas of small craft of all orders plying across the usual ferry routes. The charge at starting was nali-a-crown, and went upwards gradually, then fell to sixpence. Some who were early informed of the trouble secured as nmnv boats and launches as possible, be Fore the proprietors were aware oF the tie-up. and made a good scoop plying for hire. There were a few accidents, but not of a serious nature, in the scramble anion" the miscellaneous fleet. °

There was a tremendous rush to the telephones by the marooned picnickers who besieged them throughout the day! Many residents of the North Shore are making a roundabout journey to the city via TTornsby. As far as possible the Tramway Department is relieving the pressure by improved services in those suburbs reachable by tram.

The unions of firemen and deckhands are primarily responsible for the strike, but have tl<c snpport of the masters, engineers and men in their determined and insistent demands.

PUBLIC FUNCTION'S AFFECTED. A CONTEMPLATED BRIDGE. Received '24. fl p.m. Sydney, March 24. The Royal Show receipts for the four days were €.5,10 below last year's. The strike was responsible. The race attendance was similarly affected. Altogether about 450 are involved in the strike, a good proportion being youthful deck hands, to whose precipitate action the strike is mainly attributed. The men continue to show a most determined front. The companies, up to yesterday, took no steps to fill the vacancies. To-day they are advertising for free labor. *

Amongst the suggestions to overcome the traffic block is the building of a pontoon bridge to North Sydney. It is calculated that it would be construetible in twenty-four hour#. The strike is also giving a strong fillip to the agitation for a bridge connecting North Sydney. PRESSED LABOR. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. Sydney, March 24. The Government has pressed two Newcastle tugs into the ferry service. There is a supply of labor sufficient to man all vessels that the Government is likely to utilise. The strikers have offered their services, and also assert that they are willing; to re-man the companies' vessel if the one point of a 4S hours' week is conceded.

Mr. Carmichael, replying to the companies' request to provide hands, pointed out that their expectations of resuming are based on the .assumption that the Government will direct its eight-hour employees to work ten hours, to which the companies, lie says, attached promises of ample protection in the event of starting. The strike loaders deprecate this sympathy with the strikers, and say that the light is going to be won or lost by themselves. The Manly men. who are under a different agreement, have come out. Mr. Carmichael diplomatically fenced with the question whether the Government would prosecute the men for striking. THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE. A DIFFERENCE WITH THE COMPANIES. Received 24. 0.30 p.m. Sydney. March 24. The ferries strike remains unsettled. To-day's developments chiefly centred round the Government's attitude for making better provision to meet the public convenience than the present "mergencv services offer. Representatives of the companies interviewed Mr. t.'ariuichiel and presented him with a joint letter, pointing out the inadequacy of the existing provisions when regular business demands arose to-morrCTw, and suggesting that the Government make arrangements to provide suitable labor to man their boats, offering, in view of the necessity for prompt action to meet the situation, to pay 50 per cent, over the present wages pending the action of the Wages Board, such increase not to be considered a fair wage, but compensation for special services; the men so employed not to be those on strike. Mr. Carmichael replied that the letter was practically the same as the companies' previous offer. It asked the Government to employ its own men doing work for the benefit of the companies. They had no business to come and ask him to take the companies' side if he was prepared to hand over the boats of the Government to work for the benefit of the public. The Government would consider the proposal. The facts did not warrant the conclusion that the Government was nnabi" to meet the public wants. So far they had used only part of thp available steamers. Tomorrow they would put on the rest. If these were in-nflioirnt he would take other steps. If the companies found the boats lie wouM fi id ilif crews, and so keep clear of the di-pnte. For the present he won 1 1 utilise Government servants, but hr vonM give no assurance that lie woiiid not. employ strikers. The director: r ft,. r eonsidering the reply, informed Mr. V iri'ili-!i:m>l that thev were not prepan d to ha.:d their vessels over to the Government without a stipulation that they wouM not employ strikers. Mr. <'.ir;uich:'.cl der'in-'il to ;iccr;>t the stipulation. A MODIFIED FLEET. THE "SHANDY-GAFF SERYICE." Received 24. 10.35 p.m. Svdnev. March 24. Though yesterday's fl'-et was considerably increased, the services were extended to-dav. and demonstrated that the present fcrrv arrangements are inadequate for public demands, at least as far as North Sydney and C'remorne are concerned, during the holiday rush for the show and the racs. This niotiiin". and returning to-night, dense crowds packed the wharves at both ends, and there was much scrambling and pushing. Detachments of police had their work cut out to regulate the embark ins and disembarking. Many women and children had a rougn time, and were almost suffocated iu the crush. With the assistance of free labor aid allegedly of four deserters from the strikers' ranks the Manly Company got a limited service going this afternoon. A big crowd of strikers gathered on the wharf and hooted and groaned at the scratch crews and passengers. The police escorted the passengers.

The Balmain Company lias raised the siege of the marooned Lane Cove river residents. Two steamers, one manned by directors of the company, arc workf ing the boats.

The hulk of the llunly visitors were compelled to make the journey overland, via the Spit, thereby adding to the pressure of the Government's North Sydney traffic. Private launches and boats were again out in force, and were well patronised. At several meetings advice was given to the striker's to stand firm. The men loudly cheered the Government's socalled "shandy-gaff service." and its action generally in dealing with labor matters was caustically criticised.