LABOUR UNREST

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4015, 15 June 1920, Page 1

LABOUR UNREST

SYDNEY'S GLOOMY OUTLOOK, MELBOURNeIn DARKNESS. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright-) (Aust.-N.Z. Cable Association.) Sydney, June 14. Dark clouds are looming on the industrial horizon, and anything may happen in the next day or two, owing to Melbourne coal being declared "black," but the union officials are doing their best to prevent a catastrophe. Melbourne, June 14. The city is almost in total darkness. Flares are being used at the railway stations, and hurricane lamps in public buildings. Congregations in the churches yesterday ivere .exhorted from the pulpits to bring their oAvn lights. " A limited supply of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable the factories to carry on. Volunteer Avorkers at the gasworks are engaged in getting up a supply, lhe coal and coke at the gasAVorks has been declared "black," and may not be improved. The trouble may extend to the trams, as" oAving to the employment of a non-unionist driver on one service, the men threaten to cease Avork. It is also probable that the) wharf labourers will refuse to handle coal for the gasAVorks. The electric tram service is suspended, thousands of people having to Avalk to work. The great fear at present is for the sewerage, if the engineers of this service carry their threat into execution and cease, work. The dismal outlook is made Avorse by a fuel shortage and steady ram Avhich set in yesterday. THE ITALIAN HOLD-UP. MILITARY ASSIST IN TRANSPORT. Rome, June 13. Quiet has been restored in Trieste. The Government is using military engineers and volunteers to run trains and load munitions. The strike, is knoAvn as the "white strike. lne railwaymen simply fold their arms and do not leave the stations. Passengers are compelled to disembark or depart ten miles outside the city.