MELBOURNE'S PLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 5

MELBOURNE'S PLIGHT.

PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS.

ELECTRIC SUPPLY FAILING.

STRIKE TO BE FOUGHT. By Telegraph— Association—Copyrigl

: (Received 11.30 p.m,) A. and'N.Z* " ' MELBOURNE, Jun« 11. In consequence of the gas- -workers' strike the city is almost in total darkness. Flares are being • used at railway stations and hurricane lamps in public buildings. Congregations in tEe churches yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights. A limited supply of electricity is available, but not sufficient to enable 'the factories to' carry on work. Volunteer workers at the gasworks aro engaged in getting up a supply of gas. The coal and coke at the gasworks have been declared "black"' and may not be removed. The trouble may extend to the tramway services as owing to the employment of a non-unionist driver on one service, the men threaten to cease work. It is also probable that the wharf labourers will refuse to handle coal for the gas works. The electric tramway services have been suspended and thousands of people are having to walk to work. The great fear at present is for the sewerage service, as the. engineers employed in this department are threatening also to strike. A dismal outlook is made worse by a shortage of fuel, and a steady rain set in yesterday.

The Premier of Victoria, Mr- J. Bower, in appealing to the public, intimated that the strike would be fought to the end. No section would bo permitted to dislocate essential services. Meat worth £1,500,000 now in cold storage is exposed to the danger of destruction owing to the withdrawal of electricity for refrigerating purposed '

Mr, Justice Higgins,' after failing in an effort to secure a compulsory conference, stated that the Gasworkers' Union had sought increases in pay from the companies, 'who agreed to an increase of a shilling a day, which, in addition to a shilling increase granted in December, made a 12s increase weekly since May 1. The union wanted another .shilling, but the company refused to give it. Unskilled labourers were offered 1.3s a day, bat, on tho latest statistics, he, if making an award, would nut feel justified in prescribing so much. FOREBODINGS IN SYDNEY. INDUSTRIAL STORM CLOUDS. Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association. (Heed. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 14. Dark clouds are looming on the industrial horizon in Sydney, and anything may happen in the next day or two owing to coal for Melbourne being declared "black," but union officials are doing their best to prevent a catastrophe.