QUESTION OF GENERAL STRIKE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16002, 19 February 1914, Page 7

QUESTION OF GENERAL STRIKE.

NOT CONTEMPLATED BY FEDERATION. SYDNEY, February 18. The secretary of the Labour Federation of Australia says he is watching developments, and he is prepared to afford any help required, but the federation does not contemplate the idea of a general strike, as the dispute should be confined to the meat industry. SUPPLY OF MEAT. ( THE COLD STORES. DEPOTS TO BE OPENED. SYDNEY, February 18. The employers in the meat industry state that there is sufficient frozen meat in the stores to meet all Sydney's demands for a fortnight or three weeks. They have arranged to open three depots to-day —two in the city and one at Rockdale— for the distribution of this meat. There is a possibility of this move being blocked, however. A meeting of the Grand Council of the Australasian Meat Industry decided to work all frozen meat intended for export, but the question of distributien in the city has been postponed for consideration by a meeting to be held on Friday. This is interpreted to mean that, if the council so decide, the cold storage employees will be oeked to strike in sympathy with other employees in the industry.

Freeh meat is still available in the suburbs and the country, but none can be got in the city.

The unionists explain that no stock was purchased on their behalf at yesterday's stock sales, because no slaughtering facilities were available, as practically the whole of the abattoir space is leased by the carcase butchers.

FOUR THOUSAND MEN IDLE. SYDNEY, February 18. The strike has already thrown 40C0 men idle, including 200 carcase carters. POSITION AT MELBOURNE. ABATTOIRS TROUBLE SETTLED. DEMAND BY SHOP EMPLOYEES. MELBOURNE, February la The trouble over cleaning the pens at the city abattoirs has been settled, and the slaughtermen have resumed work. The butchers' shop employees, however, have made claims similar to the Sydney men's demands, and request a conference within 48 hours. Failing a settlement, they threaten to leave work on Friday morning. The masters have consented to meet them in conference to-day. IRONWORKERS' STRIKE. 100 MORE MEN IDLE. SYDNEY, February 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 9.42 p.m.) Another hundred men struck at the Clyde Works to-day, and it is anticipated that 2000 will be out by the end of the week. The dispute has extended to Ritchie's engineering works at Auburn, where 150 men refused to commence work. A mass meeting of the iron trade unions will be held to-night. TROUBLES IN THE DOMINIONS. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? A PERTINENT QUESTION. (Times-Sydney Sun Special Cables.) LONDON, February 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 5.35 p.m.)

Tii a loading article on tho labour troubles in the overscan dominions tho Tiimv asks : How ar» the moderates assuming that they a-Te going to escape the dilemma created by the comparative failure of legislative regulations on the one hand

and by the obvio-js social danger of syndicalism on the otficr? We liavc oome tq expect Australia ~nd New Zealand to bd the pioneers in devising expedients for such dilliciiltieo-. Whatever the j)lan may be, the leaders of capital and labour in the dominions may an well make up their minds that collusive' bargains which they pass on to the consumers are lost. The coiic&sM'oiis ho granted arc no real solution.