THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 9

THE BRISBANE STRIKE.

REFUSAL OF CONFERENCE.

THE EMPLOYERS' LETTER.

UNION SAYS FIGHT WILL 00 ON.

fFHOit Oil? OWN' COBRKSr-ONOKNT.]

Sydney, February 17. The refusal by the Queensland Employers' Federation to grant the conference applied for by the Brisbane Strike Committee, has been followed by an official bulletin issued by the committee. The commit explains that, after careful deliberation, arrangements were made by it foe opening the way to negotiations with the Employers' Federation, with a view to, if possible, bringing about a settlement. The reasons which actuated (he committee were bound up in the vital principles around which the battle had raged—the recognition of the union. There was an earnest desire to see business operating once more in all directions. The bulletin adds that, the employers had flatcly refused to met. the representatives of the combined unions in conference, and consequently tin- responsibility lor any further prolongation of the -trouble was thrown upon the employers themselves. The committee was now prepared to fight to .i finish. Reply of the Federation. The letter in which the Federation replies to the .Strike Committee is as follows :— "Sir, Further referring to your letter of yesterday's date, in which you state that representatives from your committee I are prepared to meet any similar number from the Queensland Employers' Federation with a view to arranging for the resumption of work by the men who are now out on strike, with the exception of members of the Tramway Union, whoso case will be heard in the Arbitration Court to-day, J have to state that your communication was laid before a meeting of my executive committee this morning. "At the present time, for the following strong reasons, this committee recognises that any action' in regard to such a conference as you propose 1 should not bo taken:(l) We disclaim any responsibility for the extensive dislocation of business and suspension of industry which, suddenly and without adequate notice, resulted from the .action of your committee on January 30 last. (2j We failed then to see, and still fail to see, in the pretext for the strike, any justification for the calling out of their employment the members of 43 unions. (3) The members of numerous employers' organisations wero forced to cease operations at much inconvenience and loss, and there was also slight regard manifested by some strikers for life and property. (4) Through the action of your committee, employers were compelled to adopt a defensive attitude, and take measures to protect both the public and themselves from what is considered a most ill-judged and unnecessary disturbance of the trade relations of Brisbane and other parts of the State. "While my committee is, of course, anxious that the members of the 43 trades unions who wee induced to participate in this strike, Inning no cause or grievance against their employers, should return to work for the take of those dependent upon them, at the same time it points out that, in many instances, their places have, through the action of your Strike Committee, already been filled by others equally capable. These men have thus a claim on their employers, and should not be displaced because there may now be : a desire on the part of your committee for a resumption of work for union men. The fact must not be overlooked that business has been carried on in many branches of industry for over a week. (Signed), Fukdeiuck Hanson, general sec- ' retar v."

All sorts of rumours arc in circulation in Brisbane concerning the possible termination of the strike at a very early date. It is known that the men who are. still out are- becoming more and more anxious to get back to work, while there are any vacancies to bo tilled. The police do not anticipate any more disorder, and the majority of foot specials have been allowed off duty. Only a small force is being retained for active service, and for the forming of guards when necessary. The Police and Their Batons. A report has been in circulation in Brisbane during the strike that several persons have been admitted to the hospitals suffering from injuries inflicted by the police batons. The police have made exhaustive inquiries, with the result that it was found that not a single man had been treated at the hospitals or outside through any action of the police force. In one case a man fell over a fence when the police were dispersing a crowd. He was considerably shaken, but the police did not touch him. It was also reported that a man named Williams had died in the hospital as the result of a blow on the. head, but a, careful perusal of the records failed to disclose any such case. No one of that name was received into the hospital this year. Congratulatory letters and telegrams continue to pour in on Premier Denham from all parts of the Commonwealth. .Mr. Denham says he thinks the end is near. The disorganisation of trade is becoming less serious each day. Refusal of the Military. Brisbane is now a black port, and avoided by shipping as if it were scourged by the plague. The end of the strike is not yet. Possibly the compulsory conference, which opened in Melbourne on Tuesday, may hasten the end, but it is doubtful. Mr. Justice Higgins must be in despair at the task which lies before, him, for Mt. Coyne, M.L.A., chief of the ■■ strike leaders, has declared that the result of the conference matters not to him or bis fellow-leaders, unless, of course, the result is entirely in favour of the men. Such a .statement would seem to indicate that the strikers do not expect to reap much benefit from the compulsory conference ; and. indeed, it is difficult to see how they could do so, seeing that the question of wearing union badges, on which the men went out, had been filed, among other questions, for decision by the Arbitration Court before the strike began. The strike has been an awkward thing for Labour politicians. ''I still regard the strike as a futile and wasteful method of lighting in a country like Australia," say-, Mr. Beeby, .Minister for Lands in New South Wales, "but I realise that the strike as a weapon will die hard." Because a Labour Government was in office, he adds, a frantic demand for the military was made by the Premier of Queensland —- a demand that would not have been made if Mr. Deakin had been Prime Minister of Australia. It. is this question of the military that has hurt the Labour party most. At a meeting of the Victorian Employers' Federation the chairman (Mr. R. 0. Blackwood) expressed the opinion that the State of Queensland had a good claim on the Federal Government for the- expenditure it bad been put to owing to the refusal to send troops to maintain order, I ''and. it is to be hoped," he added, '"thai proceedings will be taken to recover this money. In such an action the. pronouncement of the High Court that the Federal Government has acted unconstitutionally could ii" doubt be obtained, when, of ionise, the Government should in till decency resign, or else continue to bear the odium of making laws for the people, bid breaking them themselves." Meanwhile, not only in Queensland, hut also in all other States, the burden of the strike is falling upon the workers, who are being levied upon to keep this sport of union kings going.