RAILWAY STRIKE ENDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 5

RAILWAY STRIKE ENDED.

VIEWS OF THE PRESS.

MEN SUBMIT UNCONDITIONALLY.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

LEADERS NOT TO BE • TAKEN BACK.

ACTION WITH REGARD TO THE MEN.

TEMPERING JUSTICE WITH MERCY.

CONGRATULATIONS IN THE t HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— • '"''■.

(Received May 15, 5.55 p.m.) Melbourne, May 15. The strike has ended, the men having unconditionally surrendered. (Received May 16, 12.25 a.m.) Melbourne, May 15. The settlement of the strike was arranged at a conference held in the Parliamentary Buildings between the Premier, the Minister for Railways, the Leader of the Opposition, the Labour party. Messrs. Duffy and Madden, and the president and secretary of the Engine-drivers' Association. It was surmised that the conference was with regard to the strike, but the strictest secrecy was observed as to the nature of the proceedings. The conference broke up at half-past two, when it was understood it would meet again. Soon after three p.m. it was reported that the strike was over. The first news was received with incredulity. The first authoritative news came from the Premier, who at four o'clock made a statement in the Legislative Assembly. On rising to speak he was greeted with loud cheers. He said: It is extremely gratifying to me to be placed in the position of being able to announce that the unfortunate strike has come to an end. I received this morning, through the favour of the Leader of the Opposition and other gentlemen, the following letters: —

"Locomotive Engine-drivers and Firemen's Association. May 15. Sir,-—On behalf of the members cf the above association now on strike, we desire to intimate to you that we have declared the strike off, and that the association as a body is prepared to return to work in full confidence that we will receive justice at your bauds.—(Signed), Haiit, President; Scorer, General Secretary."

Mr. Irvine, continuing, said: In a matter of this sort it seemed to me that the Government should be left in no possible room for misunderstanding as to their position, therefore I thought it necessary, after consultation with my colleagues, to make provisions for the Government to put the position beyond the shadow of doubt. Accordingly, I wrote the following letter :—" I have to acknowledge your letter in which, on behalf of the members of your association, now on strike, you intimate you' have declared the strike off. Recognising that this is intended as compliance with the order of the Commissioner to withdraw your affiliation with the Trades. Hall Council, the Government has taken your letter into consideration. I have had the assurance of the gentlemen who conveyed your letter to me that they fully explained to you the intentions of the Government as publicly expressed in the enclosed statement, in addition to matters specifically referred to in that statement, and in order to prevent any possible misunderstanding, I have to state that any members of the association who will be permitted to resume duty will be so permitted only on the understanding that the Government shall be left with unfettered discretion to allow or disallow, wholly or partially, all pensions or compensation rights which have already accrued, or are accruing, according to merit of individual cases. I shall be glad to have your confirmation on these points.—(Signed) W. 11. Irvine."

The Premier went on to say that lie had received a reply to the effect that the association fully understood and accepted the terms the Government imposed. Disavowing all feelings of exultation, the Premier went on to say he wished it to be understood, as previously stated and explained in the statement lie had forwarded to the president and secretary of the Engine-drivers' Association, that the men would not come back in a body, as the men recently engaged must have consideration, and only a certain proportion of the strikers could be taken back. The men who had taken a leading part in the strike, or committed acts of intimidation, or left engines at points, would not be taken back. The men who had reluctantly joined the strike through being cajoled, or out of a feeling of loyalty to their comrades, would be treated magnanimously. As regarded pensions and other rights, in all probability many of those engaged in the strike would have to suffer. He went on to say : "Those whom we can admit into the Bervice we will admit with full regard to the interests of the people, but subject to that we shall certainly endeavour to temper justice with mercy, and exercise absolute inmai'tiality in admitting back to the service those who had participated' in the unhappy conflict.

Sir A. Peacock, in response to repeated calls, and amidst cheers, rose and congratulated the country on what had been done. He and others who had been working in the interests of peace were glad to think their efforts had been of use, and they had tc express the greatest admiration for the representatives of the men they had had to deal with.

Other members expressed congratulations. There was no further attempt to discuss the Strike Bill.

Three cheers having been given for the Premier and Sir A. Peacock, the House adjourned till Tuesday.

During the course of yesterday the following cable messages regarding the strike, now happily ended, were received: —

THE STRIKE BILL.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

THE FARCICAL STAGE. Melbourne, May 15.

The debate on the Strike Bill continued throughout the night, and is still proceeding. At times the proceedings were lively. Mr. Toutcher, a Labour member, said that the Government's action in calling oh the executives to resign before the meeting of Parliament prejudiced and prejudged the case, 'lhe majority of the Government's supporters had their hands manacled. The Bill was worthy of Russia. In every way he regretted belonging to a Parliament which dared to introduce such an infamous and scandalous Bill,, The men, believed they;

THE GOVERNMENT AND TEE STRIKERS.

THE POSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

Sydney, Slay 15.

Sydney, May 15.

were striking a blow for liberty. They may have made a mistake, but "to err is human, to forgive divine." Mr. Kirton declared that this revolt was a rebellion. Messrs. O'Malley, Dawson, and a gentleman who had just arrived from New Zealand were responsible for having encouraged the men. Mr. Hirsch, while condemning the men's action, advocated leniency. He was glad to hear the Premier was prepared to accept modifications. Mr. Trenwith opposed the Bill, as unnecessary and unjustifiable. The Government had no right to interfere with the men outside of their work. He denied that the Trades Hall was a political body. The Government had acted monstrously iu risking such a danger over the trifle at stake. The men had acted unwisely, and should not have struck on any provocation he could think of. They would have been perfectly justified in striking if the Government alone had been injured. He hoped that Parliament would adopt a medium course, and end the present awful state of things. (Received May 15, 4.50 p.m.) Melbourne, May 15. The debate reached a farcical stage when Mr. Maloney, member for West Melbourne, who is conducting a stonewall, began quoting Chaucer and extensively from Bradshaw. A point of order against quotations from Bradsbaw was knocked out, on the ground that it was a most suitable work to take extracts from in dealing with railways. Up to the breakfast hour the House seemed to have forgotten about the crisis, and was doing its best to get the most amusement possible out of the debate.

Melbourne, May 15. "' The Premier states that, it is not the intention of the Government to permit all the strikers willing to do so to resume duty. The men who came to the assistance of the State, of whom 211 are now actually engaged, did so under a distinct promise of permanent employment. Their claims are paramount for the positions which they suited. Moreover, it; is not intended at the present time to bring the service up to anything like the full conditions prevailing before the strike. Those men who were over-active in organising the strike, and took part in intimidating, or who- were guilty of leaving their trains anywhere on the lines will receive no consideration. The Government has appointed a Board, consisting of Messrs. Sachso and Pitt as honorary members, .and the Cabinet Board, to inquire into the claims of strikers applying to resume work.

STATEMENT BY A UNION OFFICIAL. Melbourne, IvJay 15. The official statement that 36 drivers had decided to return to the service is denied by the Drivers' secretary, who said that he had an instance where men alleged to have returned to work were at that moment at the strike headquarters. He asked if 36 had returned why were they not running trains? The men were standing firm, and were righting fairly, honestly, and quietly, and causing as little trouble and hardship as they could, and they would continue to do so. "If the Bill passes," he resumed, "a few may waver, but they will be a few indeed. We will hold a meeting, and they can lock up our metropolitan 600 under their extraordinary Bill, but that will not run the trains."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Melbourne correspondent says that measured by bald figures the position of the Railway Department would not appear to be too reassuring. Normally the services of 325 drivers are required, while at present the Department has only 35 at its command; but then, the hours are very long, and would represent what, perhaps, would ordinarily be demanded of 60. Given its best aspect, the Department is running a time-table equal to about a 60-man service, which, however, is improving daily, and anyhow, under normal conditions, many superfluous trains are run.

London, May 14. The Pall Mall Gazette expresses hopes that British Labour leaders will note Mr. Irvine's measures for a democratic country. The Financial News says Australian statesmen by pandering to labour agitators have created serious problems, which, unless effectively faced, will cause the prosperity of the Commonwealth to vanish permanently.

The Sydney Morning Herald says that the strength of the Victorian Ministry and the feeling of Parliament and the country are shown by the drastic provisions in the Strike Bill. It is a measure of self defence against organised lawlessness, as dangerous to the public peace as any overt act of rebellion against constituted authority. It needs no defence, strong as the provisions may appear, when it is remembered that its drastic and novel provisions disappear as soon as the strike is over.

The Daily Telegraph says that the Bill is a product of a unique occasion, and therefore is not to be judged as an ordinary measure. It employs more force than is necessary; therefore, more than is desirable. But this defect will be easily remedied. Mr. Irvine's enthusiasm in defence over-reached itself to the verge of aggression, and unless modified the Bill may possibly Have a dangerous recoil. Its main purpose, however, is one that every man who believes in the maintenance ol public liberty and public order must wholeheartedly support, STRIKE ITEMS. A large meeting in Melbourne of sympathisers with the strikers on Thursday nightdenounced the Strike Bill as a. "piece of barbarism unparalleled in British history," and hotly attacked Ministers. Mr. Irvine has received a cable from the Australian Chamber of Commerce in London, in conjunction with a number of influential Victorians there, cordially endorsing his action, and wishing him success. As showing the extent to which the telegraphs are being availed of as a result of the strike, nearly half-a-inillion words were sent from city offices on May 12, representing £1153. This is £183 better than the previous day's record. One outcome of the strike is the diverting of a large volume, of Victorian border traffic to New South Wales.

From the utterances of the men themselves it may pretty safely be said that there is practically no likelihood of the signalmen joining the, strike..