MELBOURNE TRAM STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18702, 7 May 1924, Page 9

MELBOURNE TRAM STRIKE.

ANGRY MOBS' Iff STREETS.

TWO CONSTABLES ' CHASED.

MEN'S DETERMINED FIGHT.

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. By Telegraph—Press Association— (Received 11.35 p.m.) A. and K.Z. MELBOURNE, May «. A conference between the Tramway Board, Trades Hall, and tramway employees' representatives discussed the tram strike to-day. The outlook is now more hopeful. The State Cabinet has decided not to intervene as the Tramway Board has ait the necessary authority to enforce discipline in its service and protect the public. The lack of trams to-day caused great inconvenience. The men this evening discussed the proceedings of the conference which have not been made public. - An ugly incident occurred in connection with the strike . yesterday. When two constables were passing a crowd which was congregated outside the Socialist Hall they were subjected to hooting and abuse. The constables, after being threatened by the crowd, took their departure, with a large section of the mob In pursuit. Thoy had gone about 100 yds. when one of them turned and fired his revolver at the crowd. The cartridge was a blank one, but it .had the effect of stopping the pursuit. The incident appeared to render the crowd angry. Several street fights followed. Shortly afterwards a detachment of police arrived and dispersed the gathering. Two arrests were made. ~ Many of the crowd threatened the police who were making the arrests, but stfter some trouble the angry section was quelled. ' All police troopers have been ordered to be ready for immediate action, and police leave has been cancelled. No trams were run yesterday except ; on some of the electric circuits. The Victorian Railway Department ran many extra trains to cope with the traffic. The Victorian branch of the Australian Railway Union meets to-night, when it is expected the tramway strike •: and railway employees' attitude will be discussed. , An official of the Tramway Board stated that until the cable trams ceased yesterday they had been running . continuously,: except on Sunday mornings, for 36 years. A meeting of the Tramway Union passed a resolution placing the matter in the hands of the Trades Hall Disputes Committee, also favouring a. fight to a finish. ■ ■ ,