STRIKERS DIVIDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 11

STRIKERS DIVIDED.

[EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY DISORDER AT A MEETING. MELBOURNE EXTREMISTS. PLANS TO WIDEN BREACH. .VOLUNTEERS WORK SHIPS. Br Telegraph—Press Associationr-Qopyright. (Received October 10. 7.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 10. Excitement prevailed at a meeting today of members of the Waterside Workers' Federation in Sydney. -Feeling ran high between the men who were in favour of an extension of tho waterfront strike and thoso who contended that the Sydney men should continue to work all vessels. Tho furniture 111 the meoting hall is said to have been roughly handled and tho men dispersed in disorder. A telegram from Melbourne states that at a conference of strike delegates held at that port it was decided to recomrnond iho carters, drivers, tug-boat enginedrivers and firemen to cease working with non-unionists. A mass meeting of carters and drivers is to be held to discuss the recommendation. Steps have already been taken to involve the gas and electricity workers. Other Workers Disinclined to Join. The shipowners continue to develop their plans for tho retention of volunteer labour. More than 3500 volunteers havo been enrolled, including unionists from Queensland. It is not likely, however, that more than half of them will remain at work permanently. Plans are now being made by the Central Strike Committee at Melbourne to withdraw members of tho Enginedrivers and Firemen's Association from fug-boats and lighters. These are not likely to succeed as these men are already opposed to the strike.

As regards tho carters and drivers it is believed that, instead of resolving to join the strike at once, they will demand that the watersido workers shall first take :i secret ballot of their own members to see if they are really in favour of continuing what is regarded as a hopeless fight. Railway Passengers Go in Fear. The railway service from tho city to Tort Melbourne was suspended for nearly two hours last night owing to reports to the effect that bomb outrages had been planned against trains carrying free wharf workers.

The. police and the railway authorities had the line carefully guarded. A thorough search revealed nothing sinister. Theatre patrons and other people going home toward midnight, when the trains resumed running, travelled vth uneasy rninds and tons® nerves. The lino was strongly guarded all night. While a masf meeting of strikers was in progress this morning at Melbourne 19C0 volunteers were working 30 oversea arid inter-State ships. There are still 26 idle inter-State ships at Melbourne