AUSTRALIAN STRIKES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 279, 17 April 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN STRIKES.

SEIZING A TRAMWAY

STRIKERS' MAD SCHEME FAILS.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, April in.

Developments at Broken Hill were anticipated, but yesterday was uneventful. During the day a wire was received from Mr. McGowen, intimating that the

Government cquld not entertain the unionists' proposal to tear up the Tarrawingee railway ami re-lay it to Cockburn, in order to provide work for the unemployed, nor could it offer any solution of the difficulty.

Reports that the Silverton Tramway Company had removed parts of the engines, rendering them useless, and that

South Australia had sent a large force ui police to Cockbum to protect railway property, threw a .damper on the proposal to seize and run the Silverton tram. The men assembled in readiness to carry out the seizure, but the leaders took no action.

Later at a meeting a resolution that two hundred volunteers should seize the tramway was rejected .on the voices, and a motion was carried to continue the fight. The meeting broke up in disorder.

By permission of the Labor Federation foodstuffs and chaff were allowed to be removed from the railway sheds and a fortnight's food supplies secured.

The federation has wired the Tramway Company asking for an unconditional conference. The company is considering the matter. Twelve constables left .Sydney for Broken Hill last night.

MINISTERIAL MISAPPREHENSION,

Received 10, 9 p.m. Sydney, April 10.

Mr. McGowen states that his telegram to the Broken Hill strikers, cabled today, was mutilated in transmission. The telegram read: "The Government have no authority to carry out the suggestion regarding Tarrawingee. Moreover, it offers no practical solution of the present difficulty." The position of the South Coast strike i< unchanged. The resumption of work depends upon the attitude of the executive at to-morrow's mass meeting of

miners. Distress Is being felt throughout the district.