Sydney Strikes

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 5

Sydney Strikes

PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT OF RAILWAY STRIKE. THE MEN'S CONDITIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 7, 8.50 p.m. Sydney, April 7. A mass meeting of the Amalgamated Railwaymen's Union accepted the Government's proposal to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the men's grievances, with provisions that the following guarantees be given by the Government:—The Darling Harbor porters' claims to be given precedence and a special interim report of the Commission ' made with regard to them; any findings | of the Commission to be given effect tothe Government to bear all expenses; the Transport Union conducting the case • no interference with existing rights as to seniority or pensions; no victimisation of casual, temporary or permanent employees; the award to be retrospective from the time of resumption. RAILWAY TROUBLE SPREADING. ALL GOODS TRAFFIC HELD UP. Sydney, April 7. The offer of the Government to set "P <*• Royal Commission to enquire into the railway strike includes, as a condition, the immediate resumption of work. _ Mr. Paddington, who recently resigned a High Court judgeship, will be commissioner. The strikers have decided to permit milk supplies to j>ass through Darling! Harbor so as not to interfere, with , the requirements of children and invalids. | Now the shunters and other guards are out, practically the whole goods traffic of the State is held up. The parcels men at the Central Railway 1 Station signed off last night, and did not start this morning. Timber yards and other industries are beginning to feel the nip, and are shortening hands. The Government is considering action in connection with picketing at the; Barrier.

The Minister of Justice stated that the Government would do its duty and protect citizens.

The only shunting being done at Darling Harbor was carried on by the stationmaster and foreman. Casual railway hands refused to handle the trucks unless they were shunted by unionists. and joined the strike.

THE STRIKE OF MINERS. BROKEN HILL IN STATE OF SIEGE. Sydney, April 7. The strike position at the Barrier is daily becoming more stringent and complicated. Broken Hill is practically in a state of siege. The Tramway Company declines to accede to the demands of the Labor Federation, and the latter has ignored the company's request to be allowed to run trains to and from Cockburn, .carrying foodstuffs, passengers and mails only, so as to avoid public inconvenience. The only public means of communication are by motor-ears. The arrival of teams has somewhat relieved the position, so far as food supplies are concerned. The bouses of tramway officials are closelv picketed, and the domestic servants, who are members of the union, have been" withdrawn from them. A serious development is the stoppage of the municipal sanitary service.

Big mass meeting of unionists have been held, the speeches delivered indicating a strong determination not to tolerate non-unionists. Besides those already mentioned, othei .nines are preparing to close, unless the train service, enabling them tv> obtain supplies and to away ores, is quickly restored. Work along the whole line of the lode will thus be stopped. The northern miners are considering the proprietors' proposals, mid prob»W-v will come to a decision to-day. The outlook is uncertain. The South Coast miners' strike is entering on the fourth wppl,\ and i« annarentlv no nearer a settlement. Trade is paralysed. Many miners have left or are le:"-i:ig th« district. Thff Broken Hill unions refused the Tramway Company's offer to run a provision train from Cockburn. PARCELS OFFICE HANDS STRIKE. PROTEST FROM EMPLOYERS.

Received 7, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, April 7. The mass meeting was lively, and lasted four and a half hours, a considerable section opposing the Commission and urging the men to hold out for more definite terms. Eventually the Commission was accepted hv two to one. A representative was appointed to wait on the Premier and Mr. Carmichael, and submit th? proposals attached to the acceptance. A further meeting is to ha held tonight. and the men were strietlv enjoined not to resume work until the result of the second meeting is known. The parcels ofiiee staff, numbering over a hundred, joined the strikers this morning, onlv a few officials remit ir.ing m charge. Outward panels are accepted conditionally, no guarantee being

given of their despatch. A largely attended meeting of employers discussed and carried resolutions dealing with the general effects and the inconvenience and loss caused by the strikes. A deputation was appointed to present the resolutions to the Premier.

RAILWAY STRIKE TO GO OK. GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. Received 8. 12.40 a.m. Sydney, April 7. Tlie railway strike is to continue. When the men reassembled to-night, the representative who interviewed Ministers submitted counter-proposals made by the Government. These, after a meeting lasting till a late hour, were rejected. There are rnmors of grave developments extending to other branches of the service. THE BARRIER STRIKE. BOTH SIDES STUBBORN. Received S, 12.40 a.m. j Sydney, April 7. j The industrial magistrate appointed to enquire into the Barrier strike has interviewed both sides. On behalf of the men it was stated that, as all the employees of the Silverton Tramway Company are unionists, all the unions were asking was for the company to run tlie service as usual without requiring men to leave the union. The general manager of the company informed the magistrate that his company wanted, besides fifteen employees already exempted from the union, seven others exempted. Both sides show stubborn persistence in their attitude. A meeting convened by the Mayor, at the request of unionists and business | men. adonted resolutions asking the Government to take immediate action to

start the wheels of the tramway under union conditions. A rcpru-wntativc committee was appointed to control the agitation. A subsequent mass meeting decided to wire Air. McGowen, asking him to start the trams within twenty-four hours, or take them over and run them. The British mine has re-started. Stocks of provisions are running low, and prices are advancing. Two hundred trucks with supplies are side-tracked at Cockburn.