THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1908, Page 5

THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

A PARTIAL RESUMPTION.

EFFECT OF PREMIER'S TION. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, March 14. Mr. Wads is acting as mediator, and has conferred with both sides. The prospects of settlement are brightening. SYDNEY, March 15. Ie A mass meeting of 3000 wharf-labour-s' ers decided to resume work at midnight n: on Sunday, on the inter-State and over5. ' sea vessels, but to maintain the strike over the vessels of the Illawarra, Newcastle, and North Coast companies. It was announced that 'the Seamen's and Carters' Unions would support the ' strike against the three lines named, and , that notice had been given of the maa tention to strike. CAUSE OF THE STRIKE. (By Telegrapli.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Some particulars of the matters that have led up to the Sydney wharf labourers' strike have been published by Mr. t D. McLaren, secretary of the New Zeae land Waterside Workers' Union. He said to a "Post" reporter that he had been in close touch for a number of years ■with the waterside and coalminers , unions, and consequently knew just- how matters were now. The trouble in Sydney was one of very long standing. As far back as 1900 there was, he saw, much bitterness engendered through the j existence of an employers' free trade bureau, which had eventually broken down. As to the immediate cause of the trouble, Mr. McLaren said there had been in existence for some consider--3 able time a claim on behalf of the , stevedores employed in the intercolonial j trade that they should be paid the same 1 rate of wages as the men employed as . stevedores on the Home-going vessels . (deep-sea ships). The position in Sydt ney was that the waterside workers did exactly the same class of work on the 5 intercolonial boats for a lesser rate of j pay—a distinction of labour that was not made in 3Jew Zealand. The present conflict was ostensibly on the ground that non-unionists were being brought in to work the intercolonial boats. Mr. McLaren stated that he had information which showed that the Sydney workers' organisations were well disciplined and, numerically, exceedingly strong-. They had, also a "federation of ' waterside workers which embraced prac- ! tically the whole of the ports in Aus- ; traha, so that Mr. W. M. Hughes' opinion, that the present trouble was likely to be a short and decisive struggle, was a proper estimate of the situation.'