THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1628, 13 May 1903, Page 31

THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

COMPLETE INTERRUPTION OF TRAFFIC.

HOSTILITY OF NEWSPAPERS TO THE EMPLOYEES.

, iIKUEIOURNE, May 11. Speaking, at. a,,banquet “given by tlie Mayor, the Premier (Mr Irvine) said that come what might, the people would never allow the control of their property to pass into the hands of any sec tion of the community whatever, and they would never hand down to their children a heritage of surrender and m isgovernment. The secretary of the Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Association, states that out of between thirteen and fourteen hundred members, not more than fifteen remain in the service.

Ministers are confident of getting a better service at work to-da.v. They state that they have received numerous offers of assistance, and they intend to run the Melbourne-Sydney express today at any cost. The “Argus” says:—“The strikers have underestimated the steady, determined, unflinohing front the community will oppose to the attempted distation of a small minority. 2ho autocratic Governments of Europe have a short way through these cases. The strength of a Democratic Government in such an emergency has now to be tested.” All the leading inter-Stato newspapers publish leaders condemnatory of the men’s action. They consider that the men were badly advised, and that the blunder must end in lasting defeat.

MELBOURNE. May 11

The victims of the North Melbourne scrimmage were the driver and fireman of the Koramburra train. They were hooted and hustled hy the crowd, and the strikers tried to coerce them to leave work. Tho driver refused, and was knocked down and roughly handled, hut made his way through a crowd of sympathisers. Tho efforts of the strikers Wore moire successful with the fireman, who joined them. Two arrests were made.

A few other isolated instances are reported where violent coercion or threats, chiefly from strikers and their sympathisers, prevented men from going to work.

The passengers by the express to Adelaide, among whom was Mr Kingston, federal Minister of Customs, had an unpleasant experience. Their train was. left stranded across the points at Sta.well, 150 miles -north-west of Melbourne. Inspector Leslie, as driver, and a clerk as fireman, charge on the breakdown. A long delay occurred at Glenorchy, fourteen miles further on. Another engine was procured, hut it was not sufficiently powerful, greased lines on the gradients also impeding the train’s progress. It arrived eleven hours late.

The strikers anticipate that the levyon railway men in the other States will alone yield £2OOO weekly. Several attempts to 'block trains are reported. Near Mo-onee Ponds a heavy rail was placed across the line. It is alleged that the cause" of the engine leaving the rails at Port Melbourne was interference with the points, and that the derailment of an engine at Seymour was due to a similar cause. The goods-sheds at Spencer street are strongly guarded by police. * Already shipping is beginning to feel the effects of the rush for berthing accommodation." More vessels will ba put on.

Delay is being caused in the handling of cargo owing to the want of railway facilities. The real pinch of the position ■will not be felt for a few days. Large firms are taking steps to reduce the number of their hand# owing to the slackness of business, and it is expected that before the end of the several thousand employees will b© thrown idle.

INCIDENTS OF THE CONFLICT.

« SETTLING DOWN TO A GRIM

BATTLE.”

MELBOURNE May 11. Strike affairs are quiet, both sides settling down to a grim battle. The department d'ijd not attempt much to-day, owing to fewer drivers being available than on Saturday. It confined suburban trains to a modified service on a few lines, but the trains were despatched with reasonable regularity. A welcome feature of the day was the despatch of trains to Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrigal and Albury. Fourteen passengers travelled on the latter train, while the others were only sparingly patronised. The Government has made arrangements for. the men who are running the trains to sleep and have their meals at the Spencer street sheds, so as to preclude the necessity of their running the gauntlet of the crowd outside.

The sheds are strongly guarded, and

the police are keeping the approaches clear.

It is reported that the strikers are advised from America that twenty thousand pounds is available if required.

The engineers’ executive has received hundreds of sympathetic telegrams from all parts of Australia, New 2'tealaud and elsewnere.

They assert that their members are increasing, that the men are stronger and more determined than ever, and that a number of those who went to the assistance of the Government have joined them. . Under the circumstances, the members of the - executive consider picketing unnecessary. They disclaim any sympathy with JLhe gospel of violence and interference with trains preached by Yarra-bank orators. The executive has earnestly enjcaned its members to take no part in acts of v-and alls m and rowdyism. It states that the men are acting lawfully, and will continue to do so. The executive claims that strikers rescued the driver at Saturday night’s scrimmage at North Melbourne. SYDNEI, May 11.

Arrangements are complete tor forwarding mails to and from Melbourne by steamer until a througn train service is again assured. The Dumbea to-day took a large consignment, including English mails. These will be shipped by the Orotava, which is being detained at Mel bourne till Wednesday. Saturday’s Melbourne mail arrived by steamer to-day. An English mail by the Romo is coming on from Melbourne, and reaches Sydney two uays late. The first direct effect of tfie strike as tar as New South. Wales is concernedwas feit at Albury (on tfie border line). All casual railway hands there have been discharged.

With the exceiition of an advance of one pound per ton in the price of chaff, and a rise, of from twopence to threepence per bushel in maize, the Victorian strike has so far had little appreciable effect on the local produce market.

STAGNATION OF TRADE

MELBOURNE, May 11.

At a meeting of representatives of tho soft goods trade, it was decided that it would be compulsory to close factories sooner or later owing to inability to forward orders to their destination.

The supplies at the timber mills are out. off. Sharp and Sons and James Moore have been compelled to close, throwing two hundred and thirty hands out of employment.

Trade generally is stagnated. Numbers of firms have notified their employees that their services will probably not be required next week. There is a great demand for condensed milk and tinned meats and fish, for which prices show a strong advance-

As large shipments of wheat are arriving, the fear of a serious rise in the price of breadstuffs is dispelled. The train to Albury was compelled -to stop at Wangaratta, 145 miles from here, owing tot the engine breaking down. The train is to remain there all night. The line was found to be greased at some of the inclines.

ATTITUDE OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT.

SYDNEY, May 11.

The New South Wales Cabinet has discussed the Victorian railway strike, and, has decided to maintain a neutral position. The recent utterances of Mr O’Sullivap, Minister for Public Works (who is absent ip the country), in support of the men, were talked over, but t??e Premier (Sir John See) has declined to state what, transpired. It is rumoured that developments are not unlikely.

VIEWS OF ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS. LONDON, May 11. The “Standard” says that the strike, besides being immediately injurious to Victooria’s prosperity, is a manifestation of general danger to the Commonwealth. It characterises the strike a.s the deliberate attempt of a political party to obtain control of the machinery of business m order to dictate to the Government. It deolares that Mr Irvine (Premier of Victoria) is right to incur any (hazard to prevent a section of the community obtaining dictatorial power.

The ‘‘Morning Post” says:—lf the Government remains firm there is no doubt as to the final issue. It is monstrous that irresponsible strikers should have power to dislocate traffic and interfere with the convenience and comfort of millions of people. The “Daily Graphic” declares t-hat-since Civil servants in Victoria have' been granted direct legislative representation the action of the labour bodies is all the more indefensible. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council to-night passed a motion expressing sympathy with the Victorian railway men. DUNEDIN, May 11. Tha Otago Trades and Labour Council

cabled this morning to the secretary of the Engine-drivers’ Union at Melbourne, expressing sympathy -with the men on strike, and offering financial aid if necessary.

WHAT MR BENT SAYS. In the course of an interview recently with a representative of the “Argus” Mr Bent, Minister of Railways in Victoria, said: “Let me tell you, there will be no more playing business.” The societies have had three months, in which to make up their minds. The Government has well considered the matter from every point of view. And we have not started without knowing what the next jump is, I can assure you. We are fully determined that the order of the Commissioner shall be carried out. I notice by the ‘Argus’.this morning that Mr Scorer says they have all Australia behind them. Well, we think we have Australia behind us, too. At anyrate, we have the owners of the railways behind us. The Government fully recognises the seriousness of the position, but if the members of the exeeudo not carry out the order of the Commissioner the.y will be dismissed. There will be no reference of the question to the Appeal Board. Under regulation 2 they have to pay implicit obedience to those in authority. If they do not carryout instructions, that is an offence, is it not? We are going to have this order carried out. Never mind what they may threaten; we will see Yvhat they will do. I hope, however, that the men will show their good sense by obeying. The way they have been going on ever since I have been here has been very hard on me. In the interests of the public the Government that combinations of railYv r ay men should not be connected with any bodies outside. These men have special pri\-ileges, it must be remembered They get higher rates of wages than any other ivorkers in the community. They haie privileges that the public is not aware of, and tbe least they can do is to keep to themseE-es. Yet they break the regulations in all directions. No employee has any right to engage in any business. Notwithstanding this, I found that one engine-driver was running a oublichouse at Prahran. Some of the men have farms. I had a letter- the other dav stating that the wife of one railway officer met passengers at Ararat, and touted for her bcarding-house. It is also stated that, even at Kensington, they take in boarders. Some of the employees who receive travelling expenses “doss’ with the gangers along the line, or sleep in the stores. They take the expenses all the same. If they start to fight, and the thing is exposed, the public will knoiv what has been done with their property.”

The executive of the Wellington Wharf Labourers’ Union met on Monday and authorised its secretary to join with the officials of other unions in the city in the matter of assisting the Victorian railway men if help should bo required.