THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 5

THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND

Mr T. Swift, an ex-member of the Victorian Government's railway staff, is in Auckland, with the expressed object of laying before the i ail way employees here "the reasons for the strike, for the actions during the strike, and for terminating it so abruptly," reasons which he hopes will put (i totally different complexion on the history of that event. He says the strikers blame the Victorian newspnpers for misrepresentation of facts. He informed a "Star" reporter that he could not say much for publication because he did not wish to prejudice the case of the men before Parliament met and dealt with it; he was to some extent found not to say very much. Mr Swift candidly admits that he was one of the men who were dismissed on account of the leading part they took in the strike. He goes further, and says that his convictions are so strong in this matter that if the same circumstances arose again he would be as willing to take the same steps. He is now here as the representative of the Locomotive Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Association of Victoria, and although he was not actually on the executive of the strikers at the time of the suspension of work, he joined it afterwards, and was amongst those who suffered When the day of reckoning came. Bound by his instructions, Mr Swift was particularly reticent on the subject, and as his mission is apparently not a public one, he was not pressed very hard. He, however, gave some little information about the strikers. To the question, "Are the men satisfied as a whole with the treatment they have received from the Government since they came back?" he returned an emphatic "No, they are not; indeed, if the; men had known what the Government! was going to do in the way of dealing with them, they would not have surrendered at all." "What is the grievance?" "Many exist. The men have not received fair treatment since they have j been taken back —they have been dismissed for the most trivial causes —a cross look at a 'loyalist' is sufficient to secure dismissal without warning. Then the Government has not kept its word with regard to the men entitled to compensation —that is, those who have been in the Department for more than 20 years. The leaders sacrificed their own interests to secure the privileges of the rank and file of the strikers, and were content that this should be so if they could secure that end. But it has not done so, and the Government has broken faith with us on that point, and has not treated us fairly on many others." "Can you tell me in a few words what the strikers' view of their position is?" "No, I can't very well. I think you will find their position pretty well outlined in the letter of the president to the Melbourne 'Argus,' printed on or about July 14. That gives the position better than I can on the spur of the moment. Besides, as I said, I do not wish to say too much to the press lest it cause more strife before Parliament meets." "What do you propose to do here, then?" "I am trying to arrange to meet the railway employees here and elsewhere so that I may lay before them the facts of our case. Hitherto the public has only had the other side, and that has not been just to us in any way. I could tell you a great deal if it were not that it is thought best that I should not do so." The interview then ended.