RESUMING WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22587, 16 March 1948, Page 5

RESUMING WORK

LOCO. ENGINEERS STRIKE MAY COLLAPSE SIGNIFICANT MOVE (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) BRISBANE, March 16. The first major union move toward the settlement of the Queensland railway strike took place last night when the secretary of the Queensland branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Engineers announced that the 2300 members of his union would return to work this morning. Telegrams have been sent to district branches of the union to this effect. The decision followed the divisional council meeting of the union. . Mr. Ridgway said that the Commissioner for Railways, Mr. Maloney, had given an assurance that the men would not be victimised if they returned to work and would retain all the privileges they had before the strike. Output For a Month

The Locomotive Engineers’ Union has been on strike since February 18 after its members had been stood down, although many continued to work. Today 1000 were on the job.

The reasons given for the union's decision to resume work were in a statement made in Melbourne by the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. Murray Stewart, that he would investigate the men's claims if they resumed and the promise of Mr. Maloney that the men would not be victimised. Mr. Stewart said that if the men returned to work he would determine whether the dispute was one for the Federal Arbitration Court. It is considered that this union’s action will be a vital factor in bringing about the collapse of the strike. Well-Planned March The march of strikers which was broken up by the police with batons is reported to have been well planned in an attempt to circumvent the laws against picketing recently passed by the State Government. It was led by Healy, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council and Englart, State secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation, both of whose names had been taken previously by the police because of demonstrations outside the Shell Company depots. Yesterday a smaller force of police than on previous days waited outside the depots, but reinforcements were soon rushed to the scene.

One hundred pickets, led by Healy and Englart, massed nearby and towards the depot bearing Communistic slogans. On being warned by the police. Healy said the men were not picketing but were holding a political demonstration. After passing the depot, the men turned and moved towards the city, being joined on the way _y others who emerged from side streets until the parade was -100 strong. Running Fight With Police

Police reinforcements met the strikers on the main shopping corner at Fortitude Valley where a determined attempt was made to seize all banners and placards. A running battle ensued as the strikers broke through the cordon and the police raced down Wickham street to intercept them. One heavily-built striker stood on his placard as the police tried to pick it up. Others closed with the police and still others, when approached, tossed the placards they were carrying to the men behindMeanwhile, the 24-hour stoppage which the Queensland railway disputes committee had hoped would take place throughout Australia next Wednesday as a protest against the anti-picketing legislation by the State Government has been abandoned, even in Queensland. The combined executives of the Queensland Trades and Labour Council and the central disputes committee decided this yesterday. The decision was made in view of the fact that the employers had applied for permission to stand down the workers.

Court to Hear Applications

The State Industrial Court will deal today with applications by Queensland employers’ organisations for permission to stand down workers made idle by the strike. Airline officials said yesterday that the rapidly decreasing demand for air freight indicates hopes by traders of the strike ending this week. Thirteen men, including a barrister, union secretaries, watersiders and railwayman appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with breaches of the new anti-picketing laws. The cases were adjourned.

Among those charged was a Communist barrister, Max Julius, who appeared for some of the defendants and was himself represented by Mr. F. Paterson, a Communist member of the State Parliament. Heavy Loss to Business Because of the long transport strike half the retail trade in Brisbane is now being done on credit. The strike has cost millions of pounds in public and private revenue and is badly delaying inter-State and overseas trade. In six weeks the strikers and men stood down because of the stoppage have lost £BOO,OOO in wages alone. Retail business in Queensland is at its lowest ebb for years. The State housing programme is at a standstill. The railways lost £1,500,000 in revenue, and cargoes worth £2,500,000 are tied up in idle ships. This season’s sugar crop is in jeopardy. The shipment of wool worth £3,000,000 is held up and there have been no food shipments to Britain for a fortnight.