QUEENSLAND STRIKE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 5

QUEENSLAND STRIKE

BEGINNING OF THE END RAILWAYMEN RETURNING. TH hi COURTS’ ULTIMATUM. BY CABI.E— PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPY EIGHT. BRISBANE September 9. A fully attended meeting of the Mary eoivmgn ■ branch or tiie Guards', Shunters’ and conductors’ Association unanimously resolved to declare their determination to leturn to work as dire, tea t,y t-.e Railway tOnimussioner. They also balled upon the disputes lommittee to deal with South .Johnstone strikers, giving them an ultimatum that they must accept the ofter of the A.bitration vourt or all support won.cl be withdrawn Irom them and they would be declared “black.” There is now every likelihood of otner members of the Guards’ Association jollowing Maryborough’s lead, and if they do the trains will probably run on Monday a.s, with all toe running staff working, the rest of the staff could lie dispensed with for the time being. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party de.eated a no-confidence motion in Mr McCormick’s Cabinet by 38 votes to 4. The Arbitration Court ordered the South Johnstone strikers back to work on the terms proposed on Saturday last, stating tnat if they had not carried this out within 24 hours the Court wou.d give the mill management whate.er relief it liked to apply for. If the order is not accepted is will result in me deregistration of ail the unions involved.

The general business and industrial position is becoming more acute, and wholesale dismissals are being made or being threatened. Fearing possible trouble at Cairns, where it is felt a clash may occur between the farmers and the strikers ; s on former occasions, a large force ,->£ |>olice was secretly dispatched by boat from Brisbane, but in view of the split in the ranks of the strikers it is anticipated the dispute will be ended before any trouble occurs.