QUEENSLAND STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 8

QUEENSLAND STRIKE

TRAFFIC IN NORTH STOPPED

SERIOUS EFFECT ON MINES.

The following messages from Brisbane were published in the Melbourne Argus on 9th inst. :—There have been previous strikes in the Queensland railway service, but never before has there been one which has produced so absolute a stoppage of operations as the present strike on the Great Northern railway. At Townsville all the employees, from the stationmaster to the lad porter, have gone out.

A message from Clonourry says that the strikers are orderly, and hold meetings daily Police are stationed at the Central Railway Station, which is picketed night and day by the strikers. The Duchess,, Dobbin, Macgregor, Great Australia, and Dolomitt mines are practically closed, and it is likely that the Mount Elliott, Hampden, and Mount Cutlibert smelters will follow when coke runs short. Trouble occurred last week at Monnt< Cuthbert between members of the A.W.U7 and 'the I.W.W. The former declined to work unless all had union tickets, and some of the latter declined to take the tickets. As the rt«ult they were not allowed to go down the mine. About 80 members of the I.W.W. refused to go to work, and these were paid off.

The Minister for Mines, commenting on this message, said that the smelters were at Mount Elliott, Mount Cuthbert, and Mount Hampden, and the question ot how long the mines could hold ont would depend on the quantity of ore they had at the smelters, and the quantity of coke they had in stock, and there could be no doubt that if the strike continued it would seriously aftect the mining industry in the north, which depended on getting out supplies by means of the railways. This interference would also have the effect on the making of munitions for which copper and other ores ■were required. A message from Barcaldine states that considerable friction has developed over the strike. There were many free fights in the town last night and to-day.

At a meeting of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce to-day a motion was agreed to condemning "the unjustifiable action of the Northern railway men in ceasing work as the result of the refusal of the Government to comply with their illegal demands, and supporting the Government in any steps it may take to assert its authority in the interests of the general community." Mr. Wareham, of the Adelaide Steamship Company, received a telegram from Mackay to-day, saying that it was believed "that the rail'viy men there would go out on strike at midnight on Thursday. Questioned to-night, Mr. Waveham said that the strike was affecting the shipping, by making it difficult or impossible to get discharged coal carried inland. Several steamers were at present at various North Queensland ports with cargoes of coal and coke, which would probably have to be taken back to Sydney. '

From Townsville it is reported that all the Northern meatworks will cease work this week if the strike be prolonged, and will not reopen this year. Two thousand men will be dismissed. There are empty trucks on the wharves, but the waterside workers say that they will declare them "black" if they are used. The steamers Junee, Nardoo, and Camira are held up. It is reported from Mackay that the railway men there have resolved to stop work at 12 o'clock on Thursday night. The Mackay Chamber of Commerce will, on Friday night, consider a motion for closing of stores and other businesses during the strike, and the consequent saving of wages during the period of inevitable stagnation. The sugar mills at Mackay are not likely to be much affected.