BIG STRIKE ENDED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 5

BIG STRIKE ENDED

FIRM VICTORY FOR THE i

GOVERNMENT

LABOUR UNIONS HARD HIT. i

STRIKERS BADLY LED

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright Sydney, October 3. With the miners' decision to resume work, and excepting the seamen, who are still out, the great strike has virtually ended in a firm victory for Government rule, and with tho participating unions badly worsted. In its breadth,' ils ylterior aims, and its disastrous uiduetrial and financial effects, tho upheaval has been "the worst in tho history of the Commonwealth. It is difficult lo conceive n bigger debacle than that to which; the unionists allowed themselves, on a flimsy pretext, to be led headlong. They not only lost their cause and plunged unionism into a welter of chaos, but stand publicly condemned, with, their ranks riven and with a fat aftermath of troubles arising directly and indirectly out of the strike and requiring to be straightened out. The outstanding features of the time of storm were the unswerving detenain*. ation of. the Government to maintain the right to govern' and to conduct public business, the consistent public support backing that policy, and—with few exceptions—The orderly conduct of the general body of strikers, from the i-tarfe of the trouble on August 2 to September' 7 the position was one of immovably firmness on both sides, Then hope dawned through negotiations between. Sir. J. B. Holme, tho Industrial Com-; missiouer, and the union tjves. As an outcome of these negotiations the railway and tram men admitted the hopelessness of the ttrugjle, and. agreed to go back under the <Je« nounced card system, with' an inquiry, to follow. There was muck soreness- in. certain sections and among outside unions over the terms of settlement, and it lotfked ae if there would be a renewal: of the whole trouble; but the continued firmness of the Government, the pressure of circumstances, and the steady adrift back to work of strikers, compelled tho adoption of a more reasonable course. The ooal-minere proved obdurate, but they too finally joined in the retreat from an impossible position. It will necessarily be some time before normal conditions are restored, particularly as regards the depleted ooal supplies. Besides many hundreds who must perforce be idle till, the coal stocks are replenished, the places of many other* have been filled by volunteers; and it !9 likely that a fair proportion of' these men, who offered to work under a promise that they would be retained if they desired, will not choose to .vacate good billets. The outlook for tho strikers is i:ot bright. Several unions have paid the price of deregistration for flouting the Arbitration Court, and-both the Railway Commissioners and tho employers generally are making the terms of re-emplo?-lnent a clear indication that the lesson of the strike has not been lost upon taem at. any rate. The indications point to considerable modifications in the relations between employer aid employee, so far at least aa the stronger unions are concerned. That phase, of the question, as well as the loss of wages by the strikers is a heavy blow struck at business both in the city and the country, aid will have yet to be counted along vitii the moral effect of such a disastrous, upheaval in the time of the Empires need upon the national reputation ot: Australia. The strikers admittedly vere badly led, but held doggedly to their purpose, believing or unbelieving, ana persisting that the whole fabric of unionism wae threatened. Tho election and anti-conscription campaigns had. depleted their funds, and so many unions were involved in the new struggle tr at the response to the appeal for funds was necessarily not large. Some strike pay was issued, but it was only in doles, and the men were beginning to feet me Pl The public has suffered serious inconvenience, but on the wliole came off well, thanks to the breadth and promptitude of the Government measures, the unstinted response of volunteers to nil tne gaps, and their own cheerful readiness to fall in with the demands of the situation. The actual effects of the dislocation aro more real than apparent, hut for the idle men in the streets, the idle fleet in the harbour, the strikers' processions, the crowded trains and trams, ana the shortage of gas and electrisity for ordinary lighting purposes,, there have- been few outward signs o: the great upheaval in progress.

THE RETURNJTO NORMAL ' ' (Rec. October 3,*9.15 p.m.) : Sydney, October 3. ' Excepting in the Maitland district and in some pits elsewhere, which, ere not yet ready to start, the bulk of the coal mines in the various districts, resumed this morning, and it is expected that the remainder will start in a day or,two. Aβ the result of the resumption the Railway Commissioners anticipate fully restoring the pre-strike services by the end of the week. The gas restrictions will probably be removed to-morrow, and developments in the shipping situation lare also pending .

SHIPOWNERS AND THE SEAMEN CURT REPLY TO REQUEST FOR CONFERENCE. (Eeo. October 4, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, October 3. The shipowners have replied to the seamen's request for a conference that no conference was needed. When work was available the men would be engaged; as requiredi