STRIKE IN QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19735, 7 September 1927, Page 11

STRIKE IN QUEENSLAND.

RAILWAYS DISPUTE. STILL NO SETTLEMENT. INVOLVING TRANSPORT UNIONS. TRAFFIC IN BRISBANE STREETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.' (Received September 7, 12.50 a.m.) A. and NfL. BRISBANE, Sept. 6. The Arbitration Court to-day again failed to reach finality in connection with the railwaymen's strike. A representative of the Disputes Committee informed the Court its proposals had been telegraphed to the men themselves, who had been asked to telegraph their decisions. The Court therefore adjourned until to-mor-row. It is not anticipated that the men will accept the terms offered. Recognising that a general strike of transport workers with the antagonism of the whole community against it would have little likelihood of success, a committee of the combined unions advised all the other unions not to become involved in the dispute. It is realised, however, that if the Government attempts to run a skeleton train service the members of the Road Transport Workers' Union will become involved, as they will be called upon to handle "black" passengers. When Parliament met to-day the Premier, Mr. W. McCormack, moved that the House adjQurn until to-morrow. He said the next move in the dispute would be made by Parliament. He had moved the adjournment in order to give the members an opportunity of thoroughly understanding the position. When members entered the House they took an oath to abide by constitutional government. If a member gave his allegiance to an outside body and not to Parliament, then the only result would be a revolution. The Premier said he was speaking on behalf of the whole of the members cf the Cabinet, who were prepared to stake their entire political existence on this question. The motion was supported by the Leader of the Opposition. The House is still sitting. A telegram from Melbourne says an official of the Transport Union there has received advice from the Queensland branch to the effect that unless thp dispute is settled to-day it is proposed to declare petrol "black." This would involve all the transport unions, including thg seamen, throughout Australia. Owing to the stoppage of the railway services yesterday the streets of Brisbane were crowded with motor-cars arid buses of all descriptions. Almost every car owner drove' to town. There was diffi- | culty in finding space on which to park the cars in the city thoroughfares. When ' workers left their employment for the day the lines of motor-buses were rushed by people anxious to reach their homes. The buses and trams coped very satisfactorily with the traffic. Mass meetings of railwaymen in Brisbane and at Ipswich last evening reaffirmed their solidarity. The oil steamer Pinna, with 50,000 cases of motor spirit and kerosene on board, is anchored off Townsville because her cargo cannot be discharged owing to the strike. It is stated that carters decline to deliver it from the wharf into the stores. Long-simmering industrial trouble in * Queensland, with its storm centre in the tropical north, has flared into what is virtually open revolt against the Government, said the Sydney correspondent of the ' Herald, writing on September 2. , To the relief of every sane-minded person, not only in Queensland, but in ~ all the other btates, the Premier (Mr. McCormack J, freshly returned from his tour abroad, has accepted the challenge made by the Queensland branch of the Australian Railways Union, against constitutional government. To a dispute between cane-cutting gangs and cane farmers in the South Johnstone district can be traced this pending industrial storm. The dispute between these parties, spread to the cane-crushing mill at South Johnstone, the mill being declared "black" by the strikers. But the farmers,'determined not to see their liarvest go to ruin, manned the mill themselves. The cane-cutters and millhands, members of the Australian Workers' Union, enlisted the support of the Aus- _ tralian Railways Union. Toward the end of last week, a boycott of the mill was put into force, this preventing the traDsport of . cane to the mili, and of mill products to the port. The Commissioner of Railways at one© accepted this challenge, and suspended three men who refused to handle goods which had been declared "black." This action was fraught with far-reaching consequences, involving a battle between the Government and the railwaymen. The Government —a Labour Administration —immediately gave the men strong intimation that it was solidly behind the commissioner. It 'announced that it was unanimous and emphatic in its determination to fight to a finish the challenge of its supremacy by the Railways plainly indicated that unless the union abandoned its policy of resistance to the authority of the Railways Commissioner, it would quickly force a climax and clear the field for a test of strength. Meanwhile railwaymen continued to refuse .to handle "black" goods in the north, and the commissioner continued to suspend I them. By the week-end, between 50 and j 60 were under suspension. Saturday and Sunday did not weaken I the Government's determination. Conferences with the leaders of the Australian j Railways Union and the Australian Work- ! ers' Union showed the Government that v the extremists in charge of the affairs of i those organisations intended to carry out | their campaign of crucifying the industries of the north. These convinced the Government thai conciliation efforts would be useless. The Brisbane morning newspapers on Tuesday printed the following statement over the signature of Mr. McCormack: —• "As the Australian Railways Union has officially decided that orders of the Commissioner for Railways are to be disobeyed and its members are complying with this decision, it has been decided to dispense with the services of all members of this union as from Saturday next at 12 noon. Members of other unions operating in the railways who have defied the decision of their executive and have thrown in their lot with the Railways Union will be similarly treated. On the Monday following the Commissioner of Railways has been instructed to take steps to engage employees who are prepared to> carry out instructions." Mr. McCormack proceeded:—"This course has been decided upon present method of dismissals is not bringing us face to face with the real From the published expression of railway employees made at meetings held throughout the State the issue is clear, and is simply whether the Goyernment or the Australian Railways Union shall control the railways of this State. The unions concerned must realise that their present attitude compels the State to protect .itself. The Government realises the gravity oi the action taken, and expects thefulisnpport and assistance Of the people »-•.«» issue now to be decided.