WILL IT SPREAD?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1912, Page 7

WILL IT SPREAD?

NOT A WHEEL WILL GO ROUND GENERAL STRIKE IN AUSTRALIA PROBABLE. STATEMENT BY TRAMWAY PRESIDENT. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received February, 5, 9.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, This' Day. It is Btated that the Strike Committee is discussing the question of a general strike throughout Australia. This is borne out by a statement made in Melbouma by the president of the Australian Tramway Employees Association that if the strike ift not settled by the end of next week not a single wheel will go round on any of the tramway services in the various States. The strike would also extend to the New South Wales railway service and the waterside workers and federated workers' associations. WEARING OF UNION BADGES, TO SECURE INTERVENTION OF ARBITRATION COURT. ADELAIDE TRAMWAY MEN TO TAKE ACTION. (Received February 5, 9.30 a.m.) . ' BRISBANE, This Day. j i The president of the Australian Tram- | way Employees Association is reported to have said that a meeting of Adelaide tramway men will be held to-day to consider the question of wearing badges, j which they have not yet done. j It is believed that the result of adopting the badges, and thus securing the extension of the strike to another State, will necessitate tho intervention of the j Arbitration Court. | COMPULSORY CONFERENCE ASKED FOR. 1 REFUSED BY ARBITRATION JODGE. -MELBOURNE, 4th February. An application on behalf of the Tramway Employees Association was made to the Federal Arbitration Court with a view of summoning a compulsory conference of the disputants in the Queensland strike. Mr. Justice Higgins refused the application on the ground that there was no evidence that the dispute was one extending or likely to extend beyond Queensland. Leave was given to renew the application if further material should be forthcoming to establish a claim. MILITARY AID SOUGHT. REQUEST NOT WARRANTED. BRISBANE, 4th February. A reply has ' been received through the Governor-General to the State Gov- ' ernment's application for military aid. This states that while the Commonwealth Government is prepared to fulfil its obligations to the States if occasion arises, it doe 6 not admit the right of any to call for assistance under circumstances which should properly be dealt with by the police forces of the State. The condition of affairs, in the opinion of Federal Ministers, does not warrant the request being complied with. IF THERE ARE TROOPS THERE WILL BE BLOODSHED. FEDERAL PARLIAMENT NO RIGHT TO INTERVENE. (Received February 5, 9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr. Andrew Fisher (Federal Prime Minister) states that he has been asked to call the Federal Parliament together to consider the position. He considers this is\ impracticable, as the Comon wealth has no right to intervene in a State 1 matter. "Why should I call Pai-liament together to enable the Opposition to direct that troops should be sent to aid the Queensland Government," he said- "If they are sent," declared Mr. Fisher, "there will surely be bloodshed." QUEENSLAND PREMIER DISSATISFIED. WHY MR. .FISHER REFUSED MILITARY. BRISBANE, This Day. The Premier (Mr. Denham) is dissatisfied with the refusal of military aid, and declares that Mr. Fisher has placed the Strike Executive bn an equality with the State Government. Mr. Fisher, the Premier declared, refused aid because the Strike Committee objected. NOTHING IN SHAPE OF FAMINE. FOOD COUPONS BEING ISSUED. BREAKING THE PICKETING SYSTEM. (Received February 5, 9.30 a.m.) ; ' , BRISBANE, This Day. Although there is difficulty in obtaining the delivery of food, so far there is nothing in the shape of famine. The police are still being augmented, and with the increased force the system of picketing the shops is being broken up. . The Strike Committee is issuing food coupons to unionists, and asking thoeewho have money io refrain from obtaining them, as the funds are required for the less fortunate. Numbers iof the strikers are leaving the city till the trouble is over. TRAMS TO START TO-DAY. IF THERE IS ADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION. (Received February 5, 9.3 C a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day. It is stated that an attempt will probably be made to restart the trams today. It is alleged that men are avilable, and the question is only one of adequate police protection. PRAYERS IN THE CHDRCHES. (Received February 5, 9.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day. Special prayers have been said in all the churches yesterday for the restoration of industrial peace. WAITING THE CALL. AUSTRALIAN WORKERS' UNION DETERMINATION. BRISBANE, 4th February. The strike threatens to spread. At a meeting at Townsville the representatives of all jvorkers affiliated £&

the Australian Workers' Union decided to cease work in sympathy with the Brisbane strikers. The men affected include the miners at Charters Towers, Rainswood, Cloncurry, Herberton, and ChQlagoe, the waterside workers at Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, and Cairns 1 j also sugar, meat, atid«timber workers. The strike eventuates on Monday if the call comes, the Strike Committee having instructed the men to hold themselves in readiness. QUIET SUNDAY IN BRISBANE. j GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION. POLICEMEN EVERYWHERE. BRISBANE, 4th February. To-day was another quiet day. The cily was thronged on Saturday night, the Socialist red ribbon being much in evidence. Police, foot and mounted, were everywhere in strong force, and kept the people moving. Wherever the nucleus of a crowd formed it was quickly broken up. Over 2000 special constables have been' enrolled, but so far their services have not been largely utilised. Vigilance committees have been formed in various parts of • the city, and _ the Governor has issued a proclamation calling ob law-abiding citizens to desist from participating in Unlawful assemblies and calling on them to assist in preserving law and order. The Government has suspended that part of the Factories and Shops Act ' relating to early closing, thus enabling shopkeepers to ' sell at Any hour of the day or night. The suburban train service was entirely suspended to-day. The Railway Department is advised that there is no general strike at Ipswich Railway Shops, only fourteen foremen and fifty-one men out of 1400 absenting themselves from diity. The Premier refused a further request to allow processions. The steamers Aramae and Arawata were unable to leave on Saturday owing to the strike. The Pilbarra, from Sydney, landed passengers, but did not come up the river. The Burwah, from the North, did Mot call, proceeding direct to Sydney. ' Two men were charged in connection with Saturday's trouble, one being fined £5 and the other remanded. ■ Many shops, including the butchfcrfl', were opened and did a brisk trade. Meat was taken from the slaughterhouses to the shops and sold tlndei 1 police protection.