THE VICTORIAN STRIKE.

Lake County Press, Issue 1065, 21 May 1903, Page 4

THE VICTORIAN STRIKE.

" The strike has ended, the men, surrendering unconditionally," was the wire we received on Saturday. ThePremier in announcing the news said > " It is extremely gratifying to me to beplaced in the position of being able to announce that the unfortunate strike has come to an end. I received this morning through faror of the leader of the Opposition and other gentlemen, the following letters :—" Loco. Engine-. drivers' and Firemen's Association, May 15th. Sir.—On b»half of the memb rs of the above association,,no* on strike, we desire to intimate to you that we have declared the strike ofi, and that the Association as a body is prepared to return to work in Ml confidence that we will receive justice a* your hands.-(Signed) H.rfc, president, Scorer, gene re I secretary. In a matter of this sort it seemed to the Govern-. ment that there should be .left no possible room for misunderstanding as to their position, therefore I thought it necessary, after consultation with tnv colleagues, to make provision for thj Government to put the position beyond tho shadow of doubt. Accordingly I wrote the following letter ;-r- tl I have to acknowledge your letter, in. which,on behalf of the members of your Association, now on strike, jouintieua** that you have declared the strike off. Recognising that this is iriten led as a compliance with the order of the Commissioner to withdraw your affiliation with the Trades K*!l Council, the lrO«rernniMit has taken, your lefrter into, consideration. I have W »R

assurance of the gentlemen who conveyed your letter to me that they fully explained to you tin intentions of the Government as publicly expressed in the enclosed statement. In addition to the matters specifically referred to in that statement, and in order to prevent any possible roiaunderstandin?, I have to state that any members of the Association who will be permitted to resume duty, wiil be so permitted only on the understanding that the Government shull be left with unfettered discretion to allow or disallow, wholly or partially, all pensions or compensation rights which have already accrued or are accruing, according to the merit of individual cases. I shall be glad to have your confirmation of these points." The Premier went on to say that he received a reply to the effecb that the Association fully understood and accepted the terms the Government imposed. Disavowing all feelings of exultation, the Premier went on to say that he wished 'it to be underatood, as previously stated and explained in the statement he had forwarded to the president and secretary of the Enginedrivers' Association, that the men -would not come back in a body, as the men recently engaged must have consideration, and only a certain proportion of the strikers could be taken back. Men who had taken a leading part in the strike, or had committed acts of intimidation, or left their engines at points would not be taken back. Men who had reluctantly joined in the strike, simply through being cajoled, or out of a feeling of loyalty to their comrades, would be treated magnanimously as regarded pension and other rights. In all probability many of those engaged in the strike will have to suffer. Those whom we can admit into the service we will admit -with full regard to the interests of the people, but subject to that we shall certainly endeavor to temper justice •with mercy, and exercise absolute impartiality in admitting back to the service those who participated in the unhappy conflict.