SYDNEY GAS STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15706, 7 March 1913, Page 5

SYDNEY GAS STRIKE

OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS. FITTERS. REFUSE TO WORK. OFFER OF REINSTATEMENT REFUSED, " FIGHT TO THE BITTER END." Press Aewciation—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 6. Over 400 volunteers offered at the Town Hall meeting. The Lord Mayor's shift included Colonel Lassetter and a number of other prominent men. FITTERS JOIN THE STRIKERS. REFUSAL TO REPAIR DAMAGE. SYDNEY, March 6. Six fitters at the Mortlake works struck after refusing to repair the damage caused by unskilled free labourers. FIGHT TO THE END.

MEN REFUSE TO WORK. SYDNEY, March 6. The Australian Gaslight Company olfers to reinstate all tho strikers if they return to work to-day. The men declare they will fight to the bitter end. OPPOSITION TO GENERAL STRIKE. SYDNEY, March 6. Although there are rumours of a general strike, the officials in several of the larger unions oppose such action, and consider it would be a blunder, and fail to help the gas men. - Some unions approved of a resolution of sympathy with the strikers, and condemnatory of the Government for offering encouragement to free labourers.

SCENE AT THE TOWN HALL. STRIKERS DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY. SYDNEY, March 6. It is claimed,'oil behalf of the gas men, that,the trouble at the Town, Hall meeting was not of their making. None of them participated' in the rowdyism. So far their conduct in the vicinity of the works, where they continue largely to congregate, has been exemplary. When the undergraduate volunteers arrived in a body to commence work the strikers greeted t-heni with cheers, LEGISLATION DESIRED. MEDIATION SUGGESTED. SYDNEY, March 6. The secretary of the gas workers advocates the calling together of Parliament to deal with the situation, since the companies cannot agree to the cancelling of the agreement and the establishment of a Wages Board. They cannot get any nearer a settlement till the Act is amended. The men are willing to negotiate, but it must be on a basis of peace with honour.

The secretary of the Labour Council appeals to the companies to permit media-,, tion. A RUMOUR DENIED. SYDNEY, March 6. The secretary of the Federated Enginedrivers' Association denies tho rumour that the electric light workers intend to join the strikers. ATTACK ON THE GOVERNMENT. SYDNEY, March 6. The newspaper Worker, commenting on the situation, says the Ministry blundered badly. It gave the men only half a day to .accept the employers' terms, and threatened to place amateur blacklegs in tlieir plaoe, and to protect the professional article. Mr M'Gowcn is trying to out-Wade Wa-de, who, even in the matter of the Newcastle strike, showed, more forbearance. Evidently the Ministry have lost their heads, and Labour's cup of bitterness is full even to overflowing.

STEADY WORK PERFORMED. HOUSEHOLDERS 1 TRIALS. SHORTAGE OF FUEL. _ i SYDNEY, March 6. (Received March 6, at 9.45 p.m.) Strike matters are quiet. An augmented number of free labourers and volunteers are doing steady work. The Manly supply is not interrupted, a full staff of volunteers having replaced the strikers. Though the North Shore Company is prepared to give a full supply of gas, many of the streets are unlighted owing to the lamp-lighters being out. The city is still without gas. The refilling of the immense reservoirs is a< lengthy process. Business is badly hampered, but the prospects of an early renewal of the service are hopeful. The majority of thf city and inner suburban residences are without fuel stores, and the households have been driven to all sort 6 of shifts.

In some instances several houses use one stove, taking turn about, and the breakfast hour varying from very early in the morning till late in the forenoon, according to the place allotted in the queue. Other meals are partaken of as the outer worker at the stove offers the opportunity.

Cold collations are largely the owler of the day.

EFFORTS TO SECURE SETTLEMENT. BEHAVING SPLENDIDLY. SYDNEY, March 6. (Received March 7, at 1 a.m.) There are Tumours that efforts are bein" made towards a settlement of the strike. The secretary of the Labour Council conferred with Mr M'Gowen and Mr Carmichael to-day. Subsequently the Ministers stated that there was nothing new to report. Apparently both sides are firm, though both profess a willingness to confer. The gas men's secretary declares that the man are still open to negotiate, but if the companies' intention is to sit back and fight the men's intention is the same. The police and the gas companies' managers pay tributes to the strikere' excellent behaviour.