THE GAS STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 6 March 1913, Page 5

THE GAS STRIKE.

LORD MAYOR'S RALLY. A FIERCE FIGHT. THE LORD MAYOR HOWLED DOWN. (Received Last Night, 8.15 o'clock.) SYDNEY, March 5. Wild confusion occurred at the Lord Mayor's "rally" at the Town Hall to-day. A fierce fight took place _ between the police and a body of Unionists. The Lord Mayor wa s howled down, and counted out. The. police, using their batons, ejected several, juicl succeeded' in quelling the disturbance. The gas was turned out and on again at North Shore. THE MEETING DESCRIBED. MAYOR PRESENTED WITH A SHOVEL. NTEKiRUPTERS EJECTED. UNDERGRADUATES ninrir.R, ;i_

(Received Last Night, 9.30 o'clock.) SYDNEY, March 5. The meeting was called by the Lord Mayor in the Town Hall, to give citizens an opportunity of expressing an opinion concerning tho strike. The meeting was very largely attended, and proved lively and exciting, almost ending in a riot. The Lord Mayor was attended an the platform by" many prominent citizens. Sub-Inspector Goulder, of the Police Force, and other members of the police were scattered inside and outside the building. It soon became evident that the strikers and their supporters were present in force. __and intended to take a hand. The Lord Mayor's appearance was the signal"for a great demonstration, those in sympathy with the object of the meeting cheering him heartily, while a .strong section of the audience hooted him lustily. After annealing for fair play, and trying for some time to get a hearing, the Lord Mayor warned the interrupters that unless they stopped their tactics they would be removed. Amidst continued interruptions and counter demonstrations a number of workmen marched up to the platform and presented the Lord Mayor with a large shovel, with the request that he would take it to the gasworks and do some stoking. The Lord Mayor, addressing the rowdy section, declared that they had a pretty poor ease if they could not hear the other side. "All that we are here to-day for," he s aid, "is to say whether a few men, by an act of insubordination, • can tie up the common services and leave our homes in darkness." LABOUR COUNCIL'S MANI-, FESTO. POSITION UNDOUBTEDLY SERIOUS. (Received March 5, 9.20 a.m.) ) SYDNEY, March 5. A manifesto issued by the Executive of tho Labour Council regrets the action of the ga s companies in taking advantage of a technical point, and refusing to cancel the agreements with the employees, knowing full well that a Waeres Board cannot be appointed whilst an agreement exists, or until Parliament . meets and amends the Industrial Act. "The present position is undoubtedly very serious,' says the manifesto, "and will be more so if allowed to extend. We, therefore, call upon all Unionists to refrain from participating or taking any action in connection with the Wiil-il" in the way of sympathy with the strike bofore consulting the Labour Council. By localising the trouble we will be better able to give effect to Labour principles, and provide funds for the dependents of the strikers."

UNPARALLELED TREACHERY. MELBOURNE GAS WORKERS' RESOLUTION. (Received March 5 9.55 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March 5. A meeting of gasworkers carried resolutions expressing the utmost contempt for the puerile and splenetic action of the misnamed Labour Ministry in New South Wales, in requesting the public to "scab" on the gas employees; and hoping that this unparalleled treachery will meet its just reward at the next election.

FREE LABOURERS SLOWLY INCREASING.

STRIKERS' ACTION ILL-ADVISED (Received March 5, 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 5. 'The North Sydney Borough Council has arranged a temporary system of electric lighting of the main streets. The number of free labourers is slowly increasing. The Australian Gaslight Company has secured 150. The Premier (Mr M'Gowen) declares that the strikers action is hasty, and ill-advised, and probably illegal. Arbitration is being made the handmaiden of the strike. If the Government is compelled to intervene it ts determined to see the interests of the community protected.

GAS SUPPLIES PROMISED

TEN THOUSAND WORKERS WILL BE AFFECTED. SYDNEY, March 5. The secretary of the Australian Gaslight Company hopes to be able to give the city a good supply of gas in a couple of days. The North Shore Company promises a supply for to-morrow. From present appearances its hopes are considered to be sanguine. The shortage of gas has rendered idlo eight hundred employees in the tailoring trade, and many in. the printing trade. It is estimated that if the strike continues a few more days ten thousand workers will be affected. The lifts in many warehouses are not working, adding to other business

disabilities. ~ AVhile condemning tile strike, » Bigsection of the public consider the? gasmen justified in demanding a shilling advance. , At this point the hostility was so demonstrative that tho Lord Mayor ordered one of the disturbers to be ejected. A wild scene of disorder followed. When a policeman attempted to cany out the order, the man's comrades crowded round him-, and a violent struggle ensued. More police pushed through, and were roughly hustled and compelled to draw their 'batons. tEventually several men were ejected. While the tussle was in progress m tho hall, the commotion among the audience became greatly excited. Meantime strong police reinforcements arrived. When order was restored, the Lord Mayor, continuing, said: "I am sorry there has been a disturbance; but'it is not our fault. In this movement we are backed up by the employees themselves, and tho whole of the representative men of the city. These men are going to support you in any wise movement that may be taken to remove the existing disabilities." Attempts made to interrupt two speakers following the Lord Mayor were* summarily suppressed by the police, several more inter jeetors beingremoved. A resolution was moved by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and seconded by the President of the Employers' Federation, expressing alarm at the action of the gas men in plunging the city and suburbs into darkness, stopping the industries, and causing deprivations to the sick and needy, and asking the Government to take steps to protect citizens in any attempt made to rested -ihe daily and jindustrial conditions to a normal state. The resolution was carried, together with a second resolution, moved by the President of the Chamber of Manufacturers, pledging this great meeting of citizens, representing commerce and industry in all its various phases, to volunteer as a body to assist in restoring to the community its daily light and power. The Lord Mayor announced that he had received from the University an intimation that sixty undergraduates were available as volunteers,' 1 as well as other offers. He added: "We want gas, and we are prepared to work for it. We will not accept threepence for our work, but will take the billets of the men and hold them till they come to their senses and return to work."

SEQUEL TO v _THE MEETING. THE STRIKE EXTENDS TO MANLY. (Received Last Night, 11.15 o'clock. SYDNEY, March 5. As a sequel to the Town Hall meeting a man was fined £5 for assaulting Superintendent (not subInspector) Goulder. During the ejectment tussles Superintendent Goulder was knocked down and struck with a chair, Ills uniform being also badly torn. The employees of the Manly Gas Company to the ai umber of about forty, have joined the strike.

THE LORD MAYOR AT WORK. DOES A FIREMAN'S SHIFT. (Received This Morning, 12.35 o'clock.) SYDNEY, March 5. From the Town Hall, the Lord Mayor proceeded to the Kent street ga.s works. Discarding his frock coat and tall hat. and rigged in an old pair of pants and a sweater, ho did four hours fireman's shift like a workman. Other volunteers imitated him. The retorts are filling steadily, and it is hoped the city will have gas tomorrow.