THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12268, 12 May 1903, Page 5

THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

A QUIET DAY.

SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICE.

TRAINS DESPATCHED WITH REASON

ABLE REGULARITY.

WORKERS GUARDED BY POLICE.

LODGED AND BOARDED IN RAIL & WAY SHEDS.

CONDUCT OF THE STRIKERS.

VIOLENCE- AND ROWDYISM

DEPRECATED.

TELEGRAMS OF SYMPATHY.

MELBOURNE TRADE STAGNANT

FACTORIES BEING CLOSED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyiight. (Kecoived May 11, 11.36 p.m.)

Melbourne, May 11.

Strike affairs were quiet to-day, both sides settling down to a grim battle.

The Railway Department did not attempt much to-day, owing to fewer drivers being available than on Saturday, and confined the suburban trains to a modified service on a few lines, but despatched them with reasonable regularity.

A welcome feature of the day was the despatch of trains to Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrigal and Albury. There were only 14 passengers on the latter, while the others were very sparsely patronised.

The Government have made arrangements for the men running the trains to sleep and have their meals at the Spencerstreet sheds, so as to preclude the necessity of running the gauntlet of the crowd outside. Thß sheds are strongly guarded by police, who keep the approaches clear.

It is reported that the strikers have been advised from America that £20,000 are available if required, while the engineers' executive have received hundreds of sympathetic telegrams from all parts ot Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.

They assert that their members are increasing, men stronger, more determined than ever. They also state that a number of those who went to the assistance of the Government have joined them. Under the circumstances they consider picketing unnecessary. They disclaim any sympathy with the gospel of violence and interference with trains preached by the Yarra bank orators. The executive have earnestly enjoined their members to take no part in acts of vandalism and rowdyism. They say they are acting lawfully, and will continue to do so. They claim that the strikers rescued the driver in Saturday night's scrimmage at North Melbourne. (Received May 12, 1.9 a.m.) Melbourne, May 11. The train to Albury was compelled to stop at Wangaratta owing to the breakdown of the engine. It remains there all night. The line was found to have been greased at some of the inclines.

At a meeting of the soft goods trades it was decided that they would be compelled to close their factories sooner or later owing to their inability to forward-orders.

Timber mills supplies are cut off, and Sharp and Sons and James Moore have been compelled to close, 230 hands being thrown idle.

Trade generally is stagnant, and a number of firms have notified their hands that their services will probably not be required next week. There is & great demand for cci'densed milk and tinned meats and fish. Prices show a strong advance.

Large shipments of wheat are arriving, and these dispel the fear of any serious rise in breadstuffs.

ATTITUDE OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT. (Received May 12, 1.9 a.m.) Sydney, May 12.

The Cabinet discussed the strike, and decided to maintain a neutral position. The recent utterances of Mr. O'Sullivan, who is absent in the country, were, talked over. The Premier . declines to state what transpired. It is rumoured that developments are not unlikely.

MAIL ARRANGEMENTS. (Received May It, 11.36 p.m.)

Sydney, May 11.

Arrangements are now complete for forwarding the mails to and from Melbourne by steamer until the through train service is again assured. The Dum'bea took large consignments, including the English mails. These will be shipped by the Orota.va, which is detained at Melbourne till Wednesday. Saturday's Melbourne mail arrived by steamer to-day. The English mail by the Roma is coming on from Melbourne, and reaches Sydney two days late.

(Received May 11, 10.10 p.m.)

Sydney, May 11,

With Qio exception of chaff, which has advanced £1 per ton, and a, rise of 2d and 3d in maize, the Victorian strike so far has-; had little appreciable effect on the produce market.

The firtt direct effect of the strike in New South Wales was felt at Albury, where all casual railway hands have been discharged.

ENGLISH PRESS VIEWS.

(Received. May 12, 12.2 a.m.)

London, May 11.

The Standard says the strike besides being immediately injurious to Victoria's prosperity, is a, manifestation of a general danger to the Commonwealth. It characterises it as a deliberate attempt of a political party to control the machinery of business in order to dictate to the Government, and declares Mr. Irvine is right to incur any hazard to prevent a section of the community acquiring dictatorial powers.

The Morning Post says if the Government remain firm there is no doubt as to the final issue. It is monstrous, it says, that irresponsible strikers should have the power to dislocate traffic and interfere with the convenience and comfort of millions of people.

The Daily Graphic declares that since Civil servants have direct legislative representation the action of the labour bodies is all the more indefensible.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. Melbourne, May 11. Speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet, the Premier said that come what might the community must never allow the control of its property to pass into the hands of any section of the community whatever. They must never hand down to their children a heritage of surrender and pysgovernment,,

ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK TRAINS. Melbourne May 11. Several attempts to block trains are reported. Near Moonee. Ponds, a suburb of Melbourne, a heavy rail was placed across the line. It is alleged that the cause of an engine leaving the rails at Port Melbourne was interference with the points. The derailment of an. engine at- .Seymour was due to a similar cause. The passengers by the express to Adelaide, amongst whom was the Hon. C. G. Kingston, had an unpleasant experience. The train was left stranded aero: 3 the point a at Stawell. Inspector Leslij as driver «'nd a clerk as fireman took .barge, but- a. breakdown and long delay occurred • at Glenorchy. Another engine was procured, but was not sufficiently powerful, the greased lines on the gradients also impeding progress. The train arrived eventually 11 hours late.

| VIOLENCE USED BY STRIKERS. Melbourne, May 11. The victims of the North Melbourne scrimmage were the driver and fireman of the Karumburra train, who were hooted and hustled by a crowd of strikers, who tried* to coerce them to leave work. The driver refused, and was knocked down and rough'v handled. He made his way through a crowd of sympathisers. The efforts were more successful with the fireman, who joined the strikers. Two arrests have been made. A few other isolated instances are reported where violent coercion or threats were employed, chiefly by the strikers and their sympathisers, men being thus prevented from going to work. OPiAnS OF THE PRESS. Melbourne, May 11. The Argus says that the strikers have underestimated the steady, determined., and unflinching front of the community, which will oppose any attempted dictation of a small minority. The autocratic, Governments of Europe have a short way through these cases, but the strength of a Democratic Government in such an emergency has now to be tested. All the leading inter-State newspapers publish leaders condemnatory of the men's actions. They consider that they have been badly advised, and that their blunder must end in a lasting defeat. STRIKE ITEMS. No trains were run on Sunday. The real pinch of the position will not bo felt for a few days. The Government is confident of getting a better service to work to-day. Delay is being caused at Melbourne in handling cargo owing to the want of railway facilities. The goods sheds at Spencer-street railway station, Melbourne, are strongly guarded by the police. The strikers anticipate that the levy on the railway men of other States alone will yield £2000 weekly, Large firms in Melbourne are taking steps to reduce the number of their hands, as a result of the slackness of business.

The State has received numerous offers of assistance, and intends to run. the Melbourne to Sydney express at any cost. It is expected that before the end of the week several thousand employees will be thrown idle in consequence of the railway strike.

Already the shipping at Melbourne is beginning to feel the effects, and there ; s a rush for berthing accommodation. More vessels will be put'on. The secretary of the Victorian Enginedrivers and Firemen's Association states that out of between 1300 and 1400 members not more than 15 remain in the service.

MR. MILLAR'S VIEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Chrisxchurch, Monday. Mr. Millar, M.H.R., who, it will be remembered, took a very prominent interest in the great maritime strike of 1890, was interviewed at Dunedin this morning respecting the situation in Victoria. " I think," he said, " the whole difficulty could have been overcome if the Victorian. Government had granted the railway servants the right to affiliate with the Trades and Labour Council, with the restriction that railway servants could not be called out on strike by that body or any body affiliated therewith- The advantage to the railway men of union with the Trades Hall would be that, in the event of their being unable to obtain Parliamentary redress of .grievances, they would have the moral and financial assistance of the Trades and Labour Council in the event of a strike, and it would also be the railway servants' right to afford financial assistance to other bodies on strike. It was in defence of the same right that the maritime strike of 1890 took place. I think it is right that State employees should belong to any industrial organisation they choose, but they should not take an active part in .politics beyond exercising their influence on questions affecting themselves. As an outcome of the struggle I cannot see how the Government can replace the men on strike. The railway servants are practically affiliated throughout the whole of the Australian States. I think the State servant should havo the same right as any other citizen to do anything ho likes outside his contract with the Government. There is no legal restriction under the Victorian Railway Act to prevent railway servants affiliating with industrial organisations. That is proved by the fact that tho point has never once been raised during the last 15 years."

j>Y TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Monday. The Ota go Trgdes and Labour Council cabled this morning to the secretary of the Engine-drivers' Union in Melbourne, An expression of sympathy with the men. on strike, and to the effect that they would offer financial aid if necessary. Wellington, Monday. The executive of the Wharf Labourers' Union has instructed its secretary to cooperate "with the officers of the other Wellington unions in giving assistance to the Victorian railway men. 1 " OirnisTCHUßnir Monday. The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council has passed a motion of sympathy with the Victorian railway men out on strike.