VICTORIAN STRIKE COLLAPSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12270, 14 May 1903, Page 4

VICTORIAN STRIKE COLLAPSING.

The stand made by the Victorian Government against the stand-and-deliver policy of the enginedrivers is already reaping its reward. This morning's cable messages inform us that in addition to a number of men in Melbourne itself the whole of those who were involved in the leading provincial centres have offered to resume their duties. From this it is clear that the overwhelming feeling of the colony is with the Government, and that wherever the railwaymen have been free from the sectional influences only possible amon?, the vast population of a great city like Melbourne, they have been able to perceive the way in which loyal citizens regard their action and have loyally yielded to public opinion. These recessions do more than assist the Department in running a modified service through the country districts. They show that the strike is collapsing and that instead of the prolonged struggle which many prophesied, it may end at any moment by a more or less general resumption of duty. It would be a mistake to consider the great body of enginedrivers as having deliberately and intentionally endeavoured to bring about the intolerable state of affairs still existing in Victoria. They most probably anticipated an easy victory and a speedy return to work with the honours of war. Such an expectation blinded them to consequences, and now that it has been falsified and the determination of the country clearly shown they must bo forced to give the question that serious consideration it evidently had not received before.