SYDNEY STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 148, 17 March 1908, Page 7

SYDNEY STRIKE.

THREE ; UNIONS AGAINST COASTAL ■ ! COMPANIES. ." -'''•' BY TELEGIUrU—PItEES ASSOCIATION —COPTIiIOHT. (Rec. March' 17, 1.8 a.m.)' ,-' . Sydney, March 16. / Tho Carters'- Union,itho Soamon's Union, and; the.. Cooks' .'and i Union have; commenced ' a'"strike against. ythe ; three coastal companies. .'!/ -'^I AN OMINOUS ASPECT.' ••"{BY - TEI.EGIUFH—SFECIAr, 'cOKnESrONDBNi:.!: ■. , ■■ ■' Duncdln, March 16. /-Mr. J. F. M. Eraser, Crown Solicitor, who has returned from' Sydney, ii - as asked to-day by v 'aStar'' reporter/ whether the'strike ;'wa's causing any: stir in Sydney. '-, /"The strike in Sydney, /lie said. " appear? to excite little-interest among tlie.!Sydney, people, but it disquieted- me;.tp- note that there was a very general impression that- a well-organised'striko in' Newcastle is imminent./ .The, impression receives dence-from the . fact; that the big turers' in Sydney and elsewhere are' quietly accumulating large reserves of coal. If this strike .'should take- place,it is believed that the meh' will .be met by the powerful -organised resistance of employers, and that the strike will bq one of iiatiqnal. import. .In those circumstances,' the- conditions may become very acute, and it is impossible to preidict how /tho reflex ■ action- may affect, other centres. . ..

"It is not ■easy'," continuoc] Mr. Fraser, "for the Now Zealanders to understand the labour' (juestion in Australia. Outside the party's immediate circle, tho peoplo appear to have a • profound dread of labour supporters. I. found them fearful of tho growing influence of labour, and most pessimistic" as to tho outlook. ' One' large section —those in receipt of fixed salaries—complain bitterly of the increased cost of. necessary commodities; which, they attribute mainly to the concessions made to labour.^' "What is to be the result?" " That is not easy to say, but you'know that there is a party in evory contro that lmngs to the winning party.. The moment victory is such a party may swing in its orbit towards labour, and give further impetus to its growing power. In any event, it is regarded as serious."