RAILWAY STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7543, 16 May 1903, Page 5

RAILWAY STRIKE.

THE BILL mi) THE THICK

(Per Press Association—Copyright.) Received to.day at 0.-1S ti.in. MELJJOIJKXE, This Day.

After lusting just a week, the great railway strike, which marked an epoch in Australian political and industrial history is over and the wheels are once more to go round again. The strike leaders found the force of public opinion too strong-, and wisely, while the door of retreat was still open, gave, way before that force. They pitted their .strength against the Government and people mid the, inevitable happened. The men deserve pity because their loyalty to Trades Unionism impelled many of (hem to a course which cannot bo denied they did not approve in a sun.se. Public sympathy for them is xovy strong and hope is expressed now that the smoke of the battle is past the victors will be generous as well as just to tile vanquished. They were urged on by lahoiit poiitieans in Victoria' ami outside States, and some Federal representatives and Senators were most vehement in their profession of sympathy. Even from the first it was obvious the position of the raihv-aymen was too unstable to be maintained vevy long, but ji, did seem that the end might be further o/l" than proved to be. ,The courage of the Government in asking for powers never before asked in an Australian Parliament struck dismay in the ranks of tho strikers. Then, too, there was a considerable leaven to the discontented men amongst the strikers that the conditions of Government employment were not regarded by the men outside the service as too hard or too badly remunerated as was disclosed by {.lie large numbers of those who ofYered their s<>rvic> es. Received to-duv at <) .n . t ~, MELmmuxK, This iSav In the city the termination of'the struggle was received on the whole with calmness, considering the strain which had been on its nerves all the week. There was no leeling but one of elation that the trouble was over, rather than that the men who had caused it .had been defeated. Much credit of the settlement was due to Sir A. Peacock, who took the leading part in the negotiations, while the irathering of representatives of all .sections of the Assembly were on Thursday night discussing the best means for arriving at a settlement. Two members of the Drivers' Executive waited upon them with" a similar object in view, and the matter was fully talked over. From this informal conference arose the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee and subsequent negotiations which led to the men's surrender. Sir Alexander Peacock states the. committee insisted upon the necessity of complete surrender, telling the men that if they did so he believed Parliament would recognise their action tincl that a spirit of British fair play would determine their treatment after the surrender. The conference lasted throughout the night. During its progress it was mentioned that a number of men intended taking the compensation duo them and going to South Africa. Mi' Scorer, Secretary to the "Drivers' Association, in an interview, said:—•'What caused us to act as we did on behalf of the Association was our desire to .save good men from being .sacrificed. T mean good fellows who were true to us. The thing had been done in the interests of the men and there is no good bringing other men down who are trying to carry you up. Wo acted after the most careful consideration, and after looking at the position in all its bearing's. It is stated in an evening paper that I had read the Premier's statement about the condition under which the men would come back. I have no recollection of saying so. J had not. read the Premier'^ statement, although we heard in the conference the views of the Government. We felt the only thing for us to do was to approach the Government. As for myself, I recognised all .through that 7 was out of it altogether, but there was no good dragging other men into the same position. 7 cannot say that all our members will be satisfied A good number are still- confident and cannot see it in the way we do. However, I feel that we have acted for tj.ic best, in Very painful circumstances.

Received to-day at 11.32 a.m. MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr Flai-t. resident of the Drivers' Association, interviewed, said:—We might well make a clean breast of it. Owing to the bribes' and other lieavy inducements hold oui, to the men to resume work the country members kept on seceding I This meant that the strike would probably lizzie out. Seeing this and the misery caused also to a lot of loyal-hearted members who would suffer through those who bad deserted, we decided to survender unconditionally and trust f«v Government. We were assurod fre m every section of the House, that the Government would car.'v the Suppression Bill through. The result has been that a. 'ot .if ? ,i<;'wbers would have taken fright at the risk of being put in gaol. The notification I had to make to a crowded meeting at the Trades ITa 11 ' last evening was received very badly. There was a decided expression of opinion among a lave section that they would reuuUn out until the executive oflicers who had been removed for disobedience were reinstated. The, meeting was certainly not in :i good temper and occasional statements reflecting strongly on the leadership were made. It was suggested we had been squared by the Government for a couple of thousand pounds. There were many strong men there who gave way to tears. I had been crying nearly all day, although [ had not cried for years, but wo maintain we acted wisely. This will be recognised when the excitement disappears. Received to-day at 11.39 a.m. SYDNEY", Thin Tay. Both morning papers publish congratulatory leaders on the end of the strike. They eulogise Premier Irvine's linn stand and statesmanlike action. The Herald says he demonstrated that the Government can be carried on independently of dictation or

coercion from any power or votik" sect i oil. The Daily Telegraph says it lias hitherto been the custom for men like, the leaders of the strike to go into such conflicts with a light heart Whatever happened they seldom lose. Mr Irvine has taught Unionism a wholesome lesson when it takes up arms against the State. This kind of end used not to be .looked for. MELBOUPvNE, This Day. The Age says one thing tho strike., will certainly do wilf lie to make it clear that the Unionism which is allowed within the Goverm'nont service has quite, a different, scope and purpose from tho unionism that prevails outside. It says the bulk of the men were so cruelly misled by evil counsel and that is probably the extent oi their sinning. All the country will be glad to soe them once more on tho engines. Received to-day at 1.1.'l a.m. -MELBOURNE, This Day. In his interview Mr Mart went on to say that it is a fact that the sub-committee of the Association took upon itself the. responsibility of declaring the strike off without consult! ng the executive). The reason, he said, we did not consult the executive was that its members are scattered all over the country. I have no doubt there will be an all-round row when they return, but again I say we acted for the best. It is hard to say how tho strike would have ended. The. way j things were going a lot of members, even old pension bauds, would have hung out to the last, but with the Coercion Act against us we would have had a forlorn hope The Premier expresses himself well satisfied with the result. In the course of an interview, he said he attributed the breakdown to an overwhelming force of public opinion and determination so clearly evinced in all parts of the country that the Government responsible to the people should be supreme. The Commissioner had assured him that very soon he would be able to bring the service into a sufTiciently satisfactory condition until the whole question coould be gone into by three commissioners. Meantime, the question of how many strikers can be employed will ho considered by a board of enquiry. The service will be rapidly increased up to the point eonsi' dered necessary and proper. In the meantime no passenger trains will be run on Sunday to enable the service to deal with the congestion of goods traffic.