"BLACK" BEER

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 278, 26 November 1919, Page 3

"BLACK" BEER

SYDNEY, Nov. 14. ,| This sort of thing could happen ! only in Australia, the "home of free ; men and loyal unionists." \ Several hotels in the Proserpine \ district of Queensland, on trifling ; grounds, were declared "black," and :■ pickets, including "females," were posted outside the premises to per- : suade persons against entering and drinking. Last Saturday night there , was a Targe gathering outside one , hotel, and the! "Red Flag" and • similar songs were sung for the edification of the offending publican. Two revolver shots were fired by some ardent spirit in the crowd, but no one was hurt. The following Monday, a deputation from the local branch of the Australian Workers' Union waited on the manager of a mill, and demanded the dismissal of eight men on the ground that they I had drunk "black" beer. The \ manager refused, and " the mill I employees were called out on strike. { They are still out. Although the } drinkers of the "black" beer are" | members of unions, the extremists j declare that they will hunt them out j of the town.