"A BITTER STRUGGLE."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1270, 27 October 1911, Page 5

"A BITTER STRUGGLE."

-fr SYDNEY WATERSIDE STRIKE. THE MEN DETERMINED. f SEVERE PRESS COMMENT. By TeleEr&Bß—Press Association—CoDyrieht s Sydney, October 26. Directly and indirectly the waterside strike ali'ccts 5001) whan labourers, of whom 2JUO arc- engaged iu tho coastal and inter-State trades. . According to tho tone- of last nighfs mooting, a bitter strugglo is imminent. The- shipping companies declare that they will stand by their rights under the agreements; while the men are prac- ' tically unanimous. , The secretary of the Wharf Labourers' ' Union iias communicated the decision of ° tho mass meeting to tho Arbitration v Court. An Extension Feared. a a It is understood that overtures have been mado to the carters and seamen j. to join the wharf labourers. ~ The outlook is considered serious in * mercantile circles. All departments are likely to bo affected. a Mr. Hughes, Federal Attorney-General g and President of tho Waterside Workers' .j Federation, interviewed after tho mass meeting, said ho was sorry at tho result, but hoped the men would rcaliso their mistake, follow the advice of the council and himself, and return to work under an agreement. Ho could not believe they were acquainted with tho full facts. "Beginning of Civil War." 3 Tho "Sydney Morning Herald" says ■ that the decision of tho meeting has t caused bewilderment, and calls upon tho Government to take strong action, if necessary, at the point of the bayonet and tho muzzle of the revolver. "We are really faced with tho beginning of a civil war," says tho paper. "It must ho a desperate day for unionism when three or four thousand men in a singlo union can declare a great city in a stato of siege. It would also ho a'dark day" for Labour when tho community realises 3 that such a state of things is met by the ( Government with trepidation, spinelessness, and inaction." c The "Daily Telegraph" characterises , tho strike as an attempt to blackmail c the community industrially. It asks: "How long are the Labour Governments going to let organised' Labour go on in this way without at least trying to protect the' public?" THE STRIKERS RESTLESS. SPLIT IN THE UNION POSSIBLE. (Rec. October 26, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, October 2G. The strikers aro restless, owing to tho deep-sea men working while they aro idle. They stato that tho deep-sea mem were with them in voting to ceaso work, but aro not giving them practical support. This may possibly lead to a split in the ranks and tho formation of a separate union for tho deep-sea workers. Tho companies would welcome such an agreement. Clerks and seamen continue to handlo perishable produce, including a Tasraanian cargo of six hundred bags of potatoes. At present tho carters have raised no objections to handling such goods. Tho Wharf Labourers' Union officials state that they do not consider it likely that the deep-sea men will demand an increase of pay if tho inter-State men's demands are conceded. The question was never mooted at any meeting. The barque Thora, from Macassar, which is off tho Heads, has been ordered to proceed to Port Havelock. "LARGELY A FEDERAL MATTER." MINISTER'S REPLY TO DEPUTATION. (Rec. October 2G, 11 p.m.) Sydney, October 26. A deputation of merchants waited on ' Mr. Carmichael, Minister for Labour, and 1 suggested prosecuting tho strikers. Mr. Carmichael replied that the men ' were working under a Federal agreement, and therefore it was largely a Federal ' matter. Nevertheless, the Government 1 was doing its utmost, and hoped soon to 1 have something favourable to report. 1 , CONFERENCE FAILS. • ANOTHER GATHERING TO MEET. j (Rec. October 2G, 8.55 p.m.) r Melbourne, October 26. Tho compulsory conference met again 1 to-day and discussed the men's refusal to . accept tho executive's advice. It finally dissolved, neither side having a proposal \ to overcome the difficulty, t In order to conhno 'V.o aTeo of the . dispute as much as possible, another conj iference will be summoned between representatives of the Waterside Workers'* j Federation and the Steamship Owners' 1 Federation in other ports. s : — - INCONVENIENCE LN ADELAIDE. 1 Adelaide, October 2G. Tho striko is causing much inconvenience in shipping circles. Vessels are J leaving 'without Sydney cargoes. Y t POSITION IN AUCKLAND. 0 LITTLE CARGO GOING FORWARD. (From Our Suecial Correspondent.! Auckland, October 26. The wharf striko in Sydney affects - Aucklaud in common with the other ports of New Zealand. Tho Union Steam Ship Company have issued a notification: "That owing to the Labour troubles at Sydney, no cargo will bo accepted by any of the company's steamers tor that port until further notice." In pursuance of this, tho Mahono, which left Auckland for Sydney on Tucs- , day, carried no cargo. The Makura, however, which left hero for Sydney yesterday, carried Auckland cargo, the reasun for this being that the Makura will remain about three weeks iu Sydney before setting out on her return voyage to Vancouver, and it is hoped that by that time the strike will have been settled. Tho Huddart Parker Company's steamer Wimmera, due to sail from hero for Sydney next Monday, will not take any cargo for Australian ports, and the same company's steamer Victoria, due here on Sunday from Sydney, is not likely to bring any cargo. Cargo steamers trading between Auckland and Australian ports will be similarly allVctod. and (he deadleek will continue until the Sydney waterside workers decide onco more to remove their coats. . Auckland merchants state that so far the position has not affected their business ill such a manner as to cause alarm. The quantity of produce at present leaving this port for Australia is not very groat, and there is no congestion at pre-