“OPES WARFARE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1921, Page 2

“OPES WARFARE.”

state and strikers

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. I PERTH, January 3. The strike position is unchanged. Holiday-makers and the public generally were again compelled to content themselves with the inadequate motor service. The strike badly effected the attendances at the races and other sports. A committee of business men is cooperating with the Government in oiganising the supply and distribution of necessary commodities, hood supplies are adequate, but coal is already short. The railway employees, other than those absolutely necessary have been given a day’s notice, and most of the salaried officers a month’s notice. This stop has been taken as a precautionary measure, though it is hoped it will not become effective.

f Mr Pantom, president of the Labour Party, addressing a mass meeting, stated that there would be no starvation in any patrt of the . State. Relief trtiins would be run under the control of the Disputes Committee, and not under the Railway Commissioner or the Government. Probably an offer would be made by the Dispute", Committee to the people in a few days to run the railways themselves. The alternatives now were the cessation of flic railway sendee under the Commissioner, or running without the Commissioner.

The Premier, referring to these utterances, declared that they meant open warfare and the taking over of the bailwavs on Bolshevik lines. Trains would run to relieve the necessities of tho outlying districts, but they would be run under the authority of the Commissioner, not otherwise.