GENERAL STRIKE?

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1928, Page 5

GENERAL STRIKE?

AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORTERS IMPORTANT CONFERENCE (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Reed. October 1, 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. The Transport Workers’ Act operates to-day at Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Newcastle tomorrow. Licensing is also proceeding at most ports. A union conference is being held today at Melbourne, when the strike policy will be defined. It is expected to be the most momentous in union history, and possibly may precipitate a strike of nation-wide dimensions, involving railways, tramways, all transport facilities and food operatives. All unions will be called upon to give effect to whatever decision is arrived at. Approximately twenty of the most powerful unions in Australia will be drawn into the conflict, which will be virtually a fight against the licensing of unionists, and the introduction of free labour. The conference begins at the Trades Hall, Melbourne, at 2.30. ADELAIDE SUGGESTION. ADELAIDE, October 1. . The Mayor of Port Adelaide hopes to-day to suggest a way out of the trouble on the waterside. No additional volunteer labour will be engaged until the unionists have had another chance to offer. Carriers and drivers are all idle since the volunteers were chased from the wharves, and the handling of wool, has ceased. BOMB OUTRAGE. MELBOURNE, September 30. Expressing horror at the bomb outrages, the Victorian Premier, Mr Hogan, said that ample police prptectionhas been arranged to maintain peace. At a conference of the Union, discussing the strike, the Union emphatically denounced the bomb outrage, the members of the conference stating that the men on strike are not associated with this dastardly act.

ADELAIDE’S CITIZENS’ FORCE.

ADELAIDE, September 30.

The organisation of a citizens’ defence brigade is proceeding' smoothly. It is estimated two thousand men, armed with rifles and with bayonets, will be ready next week to cope with ■

any further disturbances on the waterfront. Over one thousand have already been enrolled. • No ammuo> tion has been issued, however, and the bolts of the rifles have been removed. The city is in a state of excitement.

Motor car loads of armed volunteers 1 are parading in the vicinity of the waterfront.

The Premier, Mr Butler, has announced that no additional volunteer labour will be engaged on Monday, until the strikers have had an opportunity to register under the Transport Act.

The Commonwealth and Stale Governments have given an undertaking that volunteer labourers will not be victimised.

BRISBANE DEVELOPMENTS.

BRISBANE, September 30.

The police raided the Communist rooms at the Trades Hall, but seized no documents.

The Seamen’s Union has decided to support the watersiders in whatever action they take. %

LONDON PRESS COMMENT.

LONDON, September 28.

The “Morning Post” states: Mr Tom Walsh is warning the trade unionists in Australia that they are being used as the tools in injuring their country and the Empire. Whatevei- may be the instigation of the present violence, it is clear that an attempt is being made to terrorise the free people of Australia into submission —an ugly form of tyranny. The Commonwealth has suffered often and long from such attempts. It seems that the time has come to make a stand. Terrorists may find they are up against not only the Government, but also the public.