BRISBANE GAS STRIKE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 144, 3 June 1911, Page 11

BRISBANE GAS STRIKE.

HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE

COMPANY HAS NOT BROKEN THE LAW.”

Brisbane. May 26.

A deputation from the Trades Hall laid the ease of the men before the Premier to-day. Representatives were present from almost every union in the State, the men crowding the large apartment used by the Chief Secretary.

Mr. Hinchcliffe. M.L.C.. introduced the deputation, which, he said, wished to state the facts in connection with the dispute between the South Brisbane Gas Company and its employees. The men regarded the issue as very serious, and they hoped the Premier would take such action as would assist in bringing about a termination of the trouble and prevent any further extension of the difficulty. Mr. Moir (A.W.A.) said that the men felt that one of their fellows had been victimised. He gave in detail the history of the trouble, and said that the trouble had been precipitated by a letter sent to the union by Mr. Conlan. Thus it would be seen that the men had been goaded on to some extent by various actions, which were too numerous to mention. Mr. Denham: Goaded on by whom? Mr. Moir: Mr. Conlan.

Mr. Denham: You do not accuse the company of having goaded anybody? Mr. Moir: Oh, yes, I do. He went on to say that they were in the inglorious position of seeing the Government immigration policy degraded by the labour bureau sending men to fill the places of the strikers at South Brisbane.

Mr. Bertram (secretary of the Storemen and Packers’ Union) urged that the company might well have reinstated Whiteside, seeing that his vacancy had not been filled, except by a man from the yard. The company admitted that Whiteside was a realiable man, who did his work satisfactorily. The only deduction to be drawn was that Whiteside had been victimised.

Mr. J. Hnxham (vice-president of ■ the Gas Employees’ Union) dealt j with the conduct of Mr. Conlan,. and said it had had an inflamma-t tory effect. He read the previously ’ mentioned letter written by Mr. Conlan. Mr. Huxham went on to. say that anyone would resent J. such a letter, and he was sure if t the gas company was aware that; one of its employees was causing! ferment among the remainder of*

the men it would be the first to take the matter in hand. The strikeimist have been precipitated by this letter. j Mr. Denham, in reply, said that to intervene at the request of the Trades and Labour Council was to; condemn the action of the com-r pany. Such would be all right if the company had violated any r law, but, not having done so, he did not feel at liberty’ to thrust himself upon their notice. But if I the company or the companies asked him to intervene he would be, only too happy to do all he could j to bring about a settlement. Hej would be only too pleased to com-1 municate with the companies, but s he could not see at that stage how; he could request what they asked. 1 The secretaries of the Brisbane' Gas Company and South Gas Company had an interview j with the Premier this afternoon,! when the situation was discussed. I These officers undertook to convey [ to their respective boards of direc-1 tors an intimation from the Premier that if they were agreeable Mr. Denham would act as intermediary between the two sides. Mr. Denham states that late this after-' noon he had not received any inti-1 mation, but he understood that some of the directors were out of j town. This would mean that they» would not get a reply as early as I expected.