INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9674, 13 December 1909, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

STRIKE IN AUSTRALIA. WHARF LABOURERS DECIDE TO RESUME WORK. A STRONG SPEECH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received December 12, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, December 12. A meeting of the Wharf Labourers' Union yesterday decided by a large majority to abide by the decision of the Strike Congress aid resume work until directed tj stop. Mr Hughes, in a strong speech, said that if they rejected the policy of the Congress they would bring about not only their own defeat but sucial disaster. In the iate tramway strike the Union had been led away by the damnably pernicious docti'inea of the Industrial Workers of the World. That organisation was the cur3e ox ttie country. They were face to face with a gigantic struggle. They did not want a general strike, which would bring about violence and bloodshed. The arrest of the leaders in the prasent trouble was a hideous blunder, and the introduction of free labour would lead to riots.

MEDIATORY EFFORTS,

GOVERNMENT REACHED END

OF ITS TETHER. SYDNEY, December 11. The Acting-Premier, Mr Lee, in the Legislative Assembly, stated that the Government had reached the end of is tether as regards mediatory efforts. The Government, he added, had received six different offers to indent all the coal it needed for public purposes, and more if necessary. Mr McGowen, Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, informed an interviewer that the Labour Party repudiated revolutionary tactics, and supported the Strike Congress. Representatives of the Gas Employees' Union, interviewed the Strike Congress, and, it is understood, agreed to abide by the decision of the congress, which is not in favour of the gasmen coming out. The Government threatens to deal severely with the leaders of the gas : employees if the city is plunged in darkness.

The Railway Department has declined to provide the usual special Lain to bring the English mails from Albany. It is stated that the miners' mines are yielding about a thousand pounds weekly. Contributions to the strike funds frorti other sources are increas-

The Sydney Meat preserving works have been closed for want of coal, and 600 .employees have been thrown out of employment. Reports frym all side 3 indicate a shrinkage in trade and a shortening of hands. The condition of Newcastle trade is particularly bad. Received December 13, 1.5 a.ru. SYDNEY, December 12. In accordance with their promise the Southern proprietors have prepared the pits ready for restarting in the morning. The possibility of the miners resuming work is very shadowy.