MELBOURNE STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 5

MELBOURNE STRIKE.

TWELVE THOUSAND IDLE. INDUSTRY PARALYSED. STRIKE-BREAKERS ENROLLING [By Cable.—Press Association.— Copj-rigit.) (Received 10.30 a.vi.i MELBOURNE, June 14. It is cstimnted that 12,000 workers are !dlo through the strike. Industry is paralysed. Seven hundred volunteers have enrolled at tho Central Bureau, including professional men, engineers, and students of the University. The employees' representatives conferred with the Premier, who later met Cabinet, but made no statement to tho public—( ■* and N.Z. Cable.) CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY. AGREEMENT ON MAIN ITEMS. (Received 11.30 a.vi.l SYDNEY, this day. The gas employees met the companies in conference and agreed on the main points at issue. The union resents the i suggestion and scouts the possibility of Melbourne's dispute ertending to Sydney.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) CITY IN DARKNESS. VOLUNTEERS AT GASWORKS. TRAMWAYS SUSPENDED. MELBOURNE, June 14. consequence of the gas workers' Strike the city is almost in total darkness. Flares are being used at railway stations and hurricane lamps in public buildings. Congregations in the churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights. A limited BUpply of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable the factories to carry an work. Volunteer workers at the gasworks are engaged in getting up a supply Of gas. The coal and coke at the gasWorks have been declared "black" and jjpoy not be removed. The trouble may jsstend to the cable tramway services as tawing to empldyment of a non-unionist driver on one service, the men threaten p> cease work. It is also probable that the wharf labourers will refuse to handle (Soal for the gas works. The electric tramway services have been suspended fend thousands of people are having to walk to work. The great fear at present Jβ for the sewerage service, as the engineers employed in this department are threatening also to strike.. A dismal outlook is made worse by a shortage of fuel, and a steady rain set in yesterday. tA_and N.Z. Cable.) •DARK CLOUDS Iff SYDNEY. : ! "' *■■•'"■ •"' SYDNEY, June 14. Dark clouds are looming on the intiaetrial horizon in Sydney, and anything tnay happen in the next day or two owing to coal for Melbourne being declared "black," but union officials are doing their best to nrevent a catrasJrophe.—<A- and N.Z.'Cable.)