NO LIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1920, Page 5

NO LIGHTS.

DISTRESS OF MELBOURNE.

FEAR OF STRIKE SPREADING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Received June 14, 10.50 p.m. Melbourne, June 14: The city is almost in total darkness. Flares are being used at the railway stations and hurricane lamps in the public buildings. Congregations in the churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights.

limited supply of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable the factories to cany on. Volunteer workers at the gasworks are engaged getting up a supply of coal and coke, but the gasworks have been declared black and it may not be moved. The trouble may extend to the trams, as owing to the employment of a nonunionist driver on one service the men threaten to cease work. It iB also probable that the wharf laborers Will refuse to handle coal for the gasworks.

The electric tram services are suspended. thousand.:, of people having to wall - , to work. ( The great fear at present is for the sewerage if the engineers of ti'-'n service carry their threat into execution and cease work.

Tfte dismal outlook is made worse by a fuel shortage, and steady rain which set in yesterday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

WHAT WILL SYDNEY DOT AN UNEASY SITUATION. Received Juno 14. 10.50 p.m. Sydney, Jane 14. Dark clouds are looming on the industrial horizon, and anything may happen in the next day or two owing to Melbourne coal being declared black, but uriion officials arc doing their best to prevent a catastrophe.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT STRIKE. Melbourne, June 14. Mr. Justice Tliggins, having failed to effect a compulsory conference, stated that the Gas Union had sought increases from the companies, who agreed to an increase of a shilling a day, which in addition to the shilling incrense in December made 12s increase weekly sinco May 1. The union wanted another shilling, but tjie company refused it. Unskilled laborers were offered 13s a day, but on the latesi statistics lie, if making an award, would not feel justified in prescribing so much. The Premier, in appealing to the public, intimated that the strike would be fought to an end. No section would be permitted to dislocate essential services. Meat in cold store, valued at ly 3 million sterling, was exposed to destruction owing to the withdrawal of electricity for refrigerating purposes. The latest unofficial report is that the Albanians have entered Valona and occupied Palermo, further south. The defence of Valona is now entrusted to the cruisers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.