UNEXPECTED STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1380, 5 March 1912, Page 5

UNEXPECTED STRIKE.

WHEAT SHIPS HELD UP. WATERSIDE TROUBLE IN SYDNEY. By Telecrarh—Trcia AjiocLition—Oonyrigbl (Received March i, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, March i. An unexpected strike occurred to-day among tho wharf labourers engaged in loading the wheat ships at Darling Island. The German steamer Schlesien had arrived from Brisbane at tho end of the week to load wheat, and the wharf labourers declined to work her because a portion of her cargo had been loaded in Queensland by free labour. To-day the crow started to put tho wheat aboard, and immediately all tho labourers engaged in loading the other ships at the island knocked off, throwing idle a large number of other hand 3.

Altogether about a thousand men are out, and five vessels are affected. Five hundred trucks of wheat are waiting to be unloaded.

At a meeting later in the day the wharf labourers decided to resume work this morning excepting on tho Schlesien and the Prince IVnldeinar. Tho latter vessel was blocked because she had utilised her crew for coaling.

BRISBANE OFFICIAL'S ERRAND. (Rcc. March i, 10.55 p.m.) Sydney, March 4. The president of the Brisbano Waterside Workers' Union arrived'.on Saturday. It is understood his mission was connected with the mutual action of the Brisbane and Sydney waterside men, but he was recalled on Sunday. The reasons for the recall were not stated.

THE BRISBANE TROUBLE. STRIKE COMMITTEE'S APPEAL. (Sec. March 4, 10.55 p.m.) Brisbane, March 4. The Strikers' Committes has again written'to the Employers' Federation asking for a further assurance that there will be no victimisation in the event of the committee ordering all workers back. The federation has replied that it has nothing to add to its previous assurances. It disclaimed any intention to victimise or permit the victimisation of any workers now employed. Brisbane, March 4. 'A vote of the Amalgamated Engineers' Society favoured restarting work to-day. The Carters' Union at Maryborough struck because the masters declined to reinstate a number .of men who had been paid off. The waterside workers have decided not to handlo cargo because it would afterwards be worked by non-union carters.

LITSGOW CONFERENCE FAILS. Sydney, March 4. Another futile conference has been held in connection with the strike at Hoskins's ironworks at Lithgow.