A CRISIS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 March 1914, Page 7

A CRISIS

SYDNEY, March 4.

It is recognised that, the employers in the meat and iron trades having resolved against resumption except unconditionally, a crisis has been reached, and Government action is imperative; 8500 men are idle in the iron trades.

The master butchers formally informed Mr Holman that the Government's terms of settlement were not acceptable, and all negotiations were off at present as far as they were concerned. They had also decided to discontinue depots system from to-morrow and revert to ordinary conditions, opening all shops for employers' business. It is estimated that 80 per cent, of the shops will be selling to-morrow, and the balance in a few days. The employers will do their own killing a,nd carting. Employees are invited to apply for reinstatement on terms that will be disclosed on application. In the Assembly Mr Wade made a strong appeal to the Government to uphold the Arbitration Act even to the point of the prosecution of strikers who were flouting the law. It was the Ministry's duty, he said, to see that the food supply was maintained in the public interests. The result of the Ministry's inaction and the hollow cry of nationalisation was encouraging men to break the law; and then when employers were helpless, the Government told them their businesses would be seized, thus going back to the old bushranging days. Mr Holman, in reply, said the Government was sworn to uphold the law, and if the need arose it would do it. Happily no such, question had yet arisen and ne did not anticipate it would. Up to yesterday the Government had fair ground for believing that a settlement would be reacbled. Apparently to-day they were confronted with the necessity of doing something to restore the supply of an absolutely necessary commodity. If that was so, the Government would face the position, and nrnieOJately take whatever steps were necessary i'iii' the supreme interests of the oomi munity. ir information of breaohese of | th'e law were *orthooh:ng, piosecirVons t wo»W follow.