SYDNEY EXPRESS DELAYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12267, 11 May 1903, Page 5

SYDNEY EXPRESS DELAYED.

TRADE DISLOCATED.

GREAT BLOCK AT THE POST OFFICE.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER^ GOVERNMENT MUST WIN. (Received May 9, 8.24 p.m.) Melbottrn-e, May 9. The express from Sydney arrived an hour late. It is alleged that the delay was caused owing to the rails on a steep gradient being greased. All along the country lines live stock are being taken out and goods left untouched. Excepting in the city and suburbs, the mails are undelivered, and there is a great block at the general post office. In consequence of this the telegraphic offices will be specially opened at certain hours tomorrow (Sunday), for the convenience of the public.

The secretary of the Engine-drivers' Association is greatly elated at the breakdown of the service.

With one or two exceptions the whole of the members of the association obeyed the call out.

A social, commencing at midnight, for the purpose of keeping the strikers together, was held in the Trades Hall last night. It included addresses by several Federal Labour Senators and members of the State Parliament, whose sympathies are with the men.

The Government, though faced with the fact that their promised service has broken down, state that in a few days they will easily be able to get enough men to carry out their promises to give a fairly effective service.

Mr; Bent declares that he is confident that the Government must and shall win. The sorriest men in the country will presently be the drivers and firemen.

The excitement is at fever heat in the. city.

There are police forces at the Melbourne stations and policemen also accompany each train, but' so far there has been not the least call on their services.

It is rumoured that there is a possibility of the shunters and enginemen striking.

It is reported that the fitters have struck, but the news lacks confirmation.

FREEZING WORKS CLOSE DOWN. (Received May 10, 5.20 p.m.) Melbourne, May 10. Domestic provisions have advanced 25 per cent. The Government freezing works have closed down, owing to the railway strike, throwing over 100 men idle.

TRAFFIC TO INLAND CENTRES ! PARALYSED. (Received May 11, 1.10 a.m.)

Melbourne, May 10.

The strike has completely dislocated trade throughout the State. One of its most, serious phases is the paralysis of traffic to the inland centres. The possibility of a strike was considered so remote that a. majority of the country tradespeople were caught napping. When it was seen to bo inevitable orders were sent to Melbourne in shoals, but cams too late. At present there is no prospect of a, country train service, and the outlook if the strike is protracted is serious.

The signalmen are waiting developments. It is understood if they consider the Government's action merits such a step, or, if called on, they are prepared to strike.

The tramway employees are not associated, and their terms of employment guard against striking.

HELP FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

A STRIKE LEVY. (Received May 11, 1.10 a.m.)

Sydney, May 10.

The first levy of the New South Wales railwaymen in support of the strikers, on the basis of one day's pay per fort-night, resulted in £750, and will be continued until the trouble is ended.

A meeting of the New South Wales branch of the Railwayman's Federation to-day discussed the situation. Satisfaction was expressed at the success of the strikers' efforts, and Avillingness to increase the levy if required.

The tramway employees are also support iug the strikers, excepting as regards blocking the inter-State mails.

The strike so far has had little effect in New South Wales.

BOTH SIDES FIRM AND CONFIDENT.

(Received May 11, 1.26 a.m.) Melbourne, May 10. The sub-committee of Cabinet appointed to deal with the strike holds continuous sittings, and the men's executive is in constant session. The Government is firm and confident that they will eventually win. The men are jubilant of their success, and equally firm and confident. The fishing industry will suffer severely. About 500 fishermen have been virtually thrown idle, owing to there being no trains to carry the fish.

To-day saw no important developments, i. few suburban trains were run, and crowds gathered at the various railway stations to watch events, but generally everything was quiet and orderly.

On Saturday there was a slight disturbance in North Melbourne, where some nonunionists were chased and hooted, but nothing serious happened.

PRESS OPINIONS.

MR. O'SULLIVAN'S ACTION CON-

DEMNED.

A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.

Sydney May 9,

The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the strike, says: —"In these circumstances it is the duty of all concerned in the matter, however remotely, to refrain from saying or doing anything winch may tend to promote or strengthen the difficulty. In this connection it is particularly to be regretted that a member of our own Ministry Las permitted himself to be lead into an expression of opinion which may cause the strikers to believe they have the sympathy of our Government."

The Daily Telegraph says:"Boiled down, the reason given for the precipitation of hostilities is a lear of Parliamentary action. The action oi the Government in convening a meeting ol the constitutional representatives of the people is denounced as being the result of a desire to settle the question by legislation, and it is for the purpose of anticipating this unfair course, as it is called, that a strike has been declared. The union have taken a course intended to deteat the supremacy of Parliament, and has s«t up in it's place the coercive rule of the Strike Committee. The conduct of a responsible Minister of the State like Mr. O'Sullivan in rushing to take sides against the Parliamentary Government in "Victoria can only be described as lamentable."-

Melbourne, May 9. The Age this morning says: —"The sodden resolve of the engine-drivers' executive to strike came like a bolt from the blue. It seems to be no part of the men's original campaign. It is not a strike for better pay, fairer treatment, or better conditions. The Premier distinctly promised that he would see that all real grievances of the railway men were redressed, and therefore there can be no parade of grievances to justify the strike and the contest of the men to exalt themselves in authority above Parliament and above the Government of the country. We venture to say no body of men in any State ever exhibited more selfish and callous indifference to the interests of their fellow citizens."

THE ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE. The Melbourne Age of May 2 states: — "The Government ordered the railway unions to withdraw flora affiliation with the Trades Hall, and in doing so must have intended to make it clear that unions of public servants ought not to be allowed to attach themselves to any external political organisation. Apparently the railway employees and the Trades Hall have not, given the Government sufficient credit for trying to administer a general political principle, and have interpreted their action rather too much as it it was specially aimed at the railway men and the Trades Hall;* By some rather tactless peremptorhiess in manner the railway men were made to feel as if the Governmental order was a piece of quite arbitrary interference with their right to fraternise with labour outside of the public service. At the Trades Hall the order has been taken to be an attempt to put an affront on the trades unions and to make

an assault on their principles. . . . The Government only last October was sent into power by a splendid majority to carry out an extensive and urgently needed reform programme. The public has no desire to see the Government dissipate its energies in strife with the railway employees over side issues, if only the main point is upheld, namely, that no union of servants of the State is allowed to enter into party politics in a way that is denied to each individual public servant.'•'