PERTH STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1921, Page 5

PERTH STRIKE.

A BOLSHEVIK DOCTRINE. LABOR LEADER’S THREATS. "PEOPLE TO RUN RAILWAYS.” By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 3, 10.45 p.m. Perth, Jan. 3. The railway strike position is unchanged. Holiday-makers and the public generally were again to-day compelled to content themselves with inadequate motor and other vehicles. The strike badly affected the attendances at the races and other sports. A committee of business men is cooperating with the Government, organising the supply and distribution of necessary commodities. Food supplies are adequate, but coal, is already short. Railway employees, other than those absolutely necessary, have been given a day’s notice, and most of the salaried officeis a month’s notice. This is a step that has been taken as a precautionary measure, though it is hoped it will not become effective.

Mr. Panton, president of the Labor Party, addressing a mass meeting, stated there would be no starvation .in any part of the State. Relief trains would be run under‘the control of the disputes committee and not under the Railway Commissioner or the Government. Probably an offer would be made by the disputes committee to the people in a few days to run the railways themselves; the alternatives now were a cessation of the railway service under the Commissioner, or their running without the Commissioner. The Premier, referring to these utterances, declared they meant open warfare,' and the taking over of the railways on Bolshevik lines. Trains would run io relieve the necessities of the outlying districts, but they would be run under tbg authority of the Commissioner, and not otherwise.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.