AUSTRALIAN

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1921, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, j STRIKE IN WEST AUSTRALIA. RAILIN'AY MEN CEASE WORK. PERTH; Jan. 1. Negotiations have been proceeding for some time over the railway locomen’s demands for n seven-hour day and an increase in wages of 2os a ; day to drivers, 20s to firemen, and 16s to cleaners, with large advances for night work and a 50 per cent, increase over ordinary rates for hours worked in one dav beyond eight hours. | Cabinet refused the demand, and the i railway men backed by the L.iboui I Federation, made good their ultimatum I to cease work at mid-night on Friday, since when the whole railway service 1 has been idle. .* I The public is greatly inconvenienced in its holiday-making, and all sorts of i vehicles are beintg utilised. The Railway Commissions state that no attempt will be made to run the rail ways until something like an efficient service is assured. A compulsory conference has been called for Tuesday to discuss the situation.

the STEWARDS’ STRTKIi

SYDNEY, Jan. 1

The shipowners have issued a statement resenting union tyranny, saving it is only a matter of time when there will he no Australian mercantile marine at all, and that trade will he driven ultimately into the hands of deep sea and foreign shipping companies.

At tin 1 mass meeting on Tuesday it is expected that a motion to man the ships will lie submitted.

EFFECTS OK THE STRIKE

MELBOURNE, Jan. 1

Owing to the Shipping trouble and the Wanthabbi coal strike, train and tram, services are being severely restricted, in some cases by 50 per cent. Reviewing the position the Premier declared that the only alternative to these restrictions was to surrender the power „f government to the outside agencies which, apparently, were bent on crippling the entire well-being of the State.

CRISIS IN THE EAST

BRISBANE, Jan. 1. Mr Kockkoek, of Victoria, returning from a visit to’Singapore, states that the bottom has fallen out of the sugar, rubber, coffee, and tea markets. He predicts a commercial crisis throughout the Hast. Sugar has dropped from 80 gilders to 19.

STKWAIITVS STRIKE

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 3

The position of the shipping strike is unchanged. There is modi interest in a mass meeting of stewards to-mor-row. It is stated many stewards and members of supporting unions were against the strike and favour a resumption. It is believed to be not unlikely that to-morrow may see the end of the trouble.

A FIRE. (Received this flay at 8 a.m.l SYDNEY, January 3. A fire in Elizabeth Street, destroyed the* top stories above Ditties furniture emporium including the Church Missionary Society’s rooms with an exceptionally valuable library land collection of curios. The Press Club and Journalists Association’s Rooms were badly damaged. The fire spread so rapidly that a. number of pressmen barely escaped. Two were trapped, but firemen with a ladder rescued them from a window. The loss including Little’s by water is heavy.