BRISBANE STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10547, 1 February 1912, Page 5

BRISBANE STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Assoctationr—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.)

NEWSPAPERS AFFECTED A MONSTER PROCESSION. (Received Last Night, 10 o'clock.) i I BRISBANE, January 31. Owing to .the call out by the Typographical Union, all the newspapers excepting the Daily Telegraph, which, lis a non-union office, are greatly reduced in size. So far, 200 railway men have joined •the strikers.

The majority of the porters at city and sub-urban stations, together with mumhers of signalmen, have absented themselves from duty. They left the signals at the line dear. Instructions • were immediately issued to station-masters to take extra precautions for the safety of the trawl ling public. As a result of tne defections, the passenger service is reduced to fit the depicted staffs. j The engine drivers, firemen and [guards remain loyal, but ( it is feared that unless an early settlement is arrived at, the whole service will : be dislocated. , With .the exception of the railways, all the transport traffic is practically at a standstill. A great gathering, of strikers was. held in the Trades Hall this morning, prior to a monster procession. Stirring and , confident speeches were made, the leaders advocating firmness and peace. The procession was headed by four mounted police and sixty cycling strikers. I The police, largely reinforced from the country districts, lined the route.; The newspaper offices and shops where members of the Shops Emr, ployees' Union, which declined to join the strike, are employed, came an for hostile demonstrations. .

Otherwise the procession was order-'

The Socialistic red ribbon was largely in evidence among the processionists. A big crowd watered the procession' and cheered tlie men. APPEAL TO MR FISHER. (Received Last Night, 12.25 o'clock); - . SYDNEY, January 31. Mr Finlayson., tlie member for wired Ma- Fisher, asking ifnothing,could be done to summon a ctompulsory conference. The situation, he said, was rapidly becoming alarming. The city was excited, business .was paralysed, and serious trouble ;was easily possible. . Mr iFtisher, commenting, said he «va® sorry '.£ he strike was found necessary. In his opinion, it should never hhve been;. 1

MEETING 0. CABINET. ((Received Last Night, 11.20 o'clock.) . BRISBANE, Jaaiuary 21. The Cabinet held a lengthy meeting to consider the position. . N.egc4iati<>n.s between -the Tramway Ooh p«i-y. and strOte'leaders-are 'still pregressing. • ' • Mr Plowman > deader, of .the Opposition,' announced tiTiiat- the Company was prepared to [take /back the employees and O'l'ow them "to wear their badges, bu£ not to recognise the Union.

Tho's was rot (acceptable to the men, whio insist upon the- recognition of their union. Three hundred railway; .men are ouf. The -Minister of Railways has given the men till noon. on Friday to resume, failing which he will fill their •places, cVdarirg .that he is able torolaiiitain a £au-!y satisfactory service.. CLOSING THE HOTELS. SPECIAL CK/iV.STABI..ES SWQRN, (Received This Morning', 1 o'clock.) r BRISBANE, January 31. The butchers' shops were closed at two o'clock. The strike leaders have asked .the' Q:-m.rj if sicner" of- Police to close the hotels Swing the trouble. The Comxnss&tifciier tliouglhi -it pirem'ature to close" t*iem. If they found it necessary they would do so. of tihe hotels are voluntarily closing, chiefly "owing to the employees joining the strikers. The Piremier, in an interview, said ■the Govern menit had done tall that was possible to arrange for a settlement. _ "It would maintain, order sit any cost. With .this object the police had been .augmented. A large body, of special constables had been sworn in. The Licensed Victuallers Association. had asked him to close all Wotefe and wineshops, and he had issued an order th'at in the event of lawlessness this .be done, and apply to both oi\y and suburbs.