THE STRIKE LUNACY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1589, 15 June 1920, Page 5

THE STRIKE LUNACY.

MHTjROrRXE IN DARKNESS. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] TAust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 10.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Last Night. Dark clouds are looming on the industrial horizon, and anything may happen in the next day or two, owing to Melbourne coal being declared "black," but the union officials are doing their best to prevent a catastrophe. MELBOURNE, East Night. The city is almost in total darkness. Flares are being used at the railway stations, and hurricane lamps in public buildings. Congregations in the churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own ligl-its. j\ limited sxi-pply of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable the factories to carry on Volunteer workers at the gasworks are engaged in getting up a supply. The coal and coke at the gasworks has been declared "black," and may not be improved. The trouble may extend to the trams, as owing to the employment ot a non-unionist driver on one service, the men threaten to cease work. It is also probable that the wharf labourers will refuse to handle coal for the gasworks. The electric; tram service is suspended, thousands of people having to walk to work. The great fear at present is for the sewerage, if the engineers of this service carry their threat into execution and cease work. The dismal outlook is made worse by a fuel shortage and steady rain, which set in yesterday.