THE SYDNEY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 11

THE SYDNEY STRIKE

O V A SIGNIFICANT CABLEGRAM. STEAMER COMMUNICATION NEXT WEEK. A Dunedin business man yesterday received tho following oablegram from his partner, who was in Melbourne:—"Sydney to-night. Well." This is understood to moan that there is now every possibility ofi securing a berth on a steamer coming to New Zealand. Added significance is lent to tho cablegram by tho faoj; that information has beon received in Dunedin that steamer communication from New Zealand to Sydney will bo re-opened early next week. i AUSTRALIAN PRESS ITEMS. THE TENSION INCREASING. NEITHER SIDE YIELDS. Hie following news regarding the strike in New Sooth Wales is takon from the Newcastle Morning Herald, of August 11:— SYDNEY!, August IQ. The first development of tho day in connection with the big strike occurred this morning, when the wharf labourers ceased work. There aro 600 tons of merchandise awaiting shipment, and several steamers in port with cargoes which cannot be unloaded. The Government ultimatum to tho railway men to resume work, under penalty of forfeiture of their statue and privileges expired this morning. Tho Railway Commissioners officially stated that 500 men had returned to tho loco, branoh and 43 to the elootrioal branoh of tho railway. Tho Defence Ccmxaittco characterises thiu as pure bluff, and points out that the men are more solid than over. Members of that committee declare that the statement is just as correct as 'th 9 one made the/ previous evening by Mr Fuller, Acting Premier, to the effect that as far as tho railway and tramway service are concerned the strike is over. The Commissioners' report: The 74 trains provided in the echedule published last night ran in practically to time this morninfe, and no difficulty whatever was experienced. Yesterday afternoon 36,000 passengers wero carried out of Sydney by train. A goods train service is now in operation. Six goods trains are coming in from the south to-day, and we ore bringing in stock from tho north and west Tho tram service to-day has been , increased, 141 trams being on the road at 9 a.m., as compared ■ with 134 at the same time yesterday. _ A servico up to about 200 trams was in operation tfcia afternoon. The revenue received from the trams yesterday was approximately 33£ per cent, better than that received on the preceding day.

The Trolly and Draymen's Union notified the Master Carriers' Association this morning that its members would not. cart any more goods either to or from the railway yards, or anything to the wharves. This decision has practically hung up the carrying business, and within the next day or two there will bo almost a complete cessation of work.

The strikers hold a demonstration this afternoon. The procession, -which march od fi;om Eddy avenue, waa_ over a mile long, and many, unions carried their banners. The most popular song during the march ■was "We'll hang all ecabs to a sour apple tree," Th'jre -was a crowd of 10,000 in the Domain, and speeches ■were delivered from various platforms. Mr Lazzarini, member for Marrickville, declared that a meeting of returned soldiers had been called, -with the object of getting them to take sides with the Government, but they had car-' ried a resolution to the effect that, while they had always been prepared to fight Germans, they were not willing to go in to the workshops and scab on their fellowAnsrtraliana, and thus take the bread out of the months of their wives and children. This announcement was loudly cheered. Mr Lazzarini also pointed out that the tram service was improving so well that the Commissioners had decided not to run any trams from Saturday afternoon till Monday morning. He characterised the report that many "men i.ad returned to work as an absolute lie.

A very considerable number of additional applicants tor_ employment were received by_ the Commissioners to-day. These are being dealt with by the Railway and Tramway Staff Board,!who are from day to day passing men into the vacancies created by tho strikers. DISMISSAL OF MEN. . CABINET'S DECISION. ~ SYDNEY, August 10. The New South Wales Cabinet sat for a couple of hours this morning. At its conclusion, the Acting Premier (Mr Fuller) issued the following important statement: — The Government profoundly regrets the action of certain additional unions in joining in j&e strike. Their first duty is to maintain food supplies and transport. Many thousarfds ot citizens have offered their services, and stops are being rapidly taken ,to organise the labour which is offering, in order that it may bo used in the most economical and effective way. The Government did contemplate open- . ing an office for the registration of vciun- ■ teers, but finds this quite unnecessary today, as tho offers made exceed by far tho , present requirements. On Monday next all railway and tramway men on strike will be formally dismissed from the services This stejj involves, tho forfeiture of all their rights under the Superannuation Act. The Government is quite confident that pubiio opinion will' respond to the challenge which has been made to constituted authority. Considerable inconvenience, • and even hardship, will probably be entailed, but thej majority of tho people aro prepared to cheerfully bear this rather than allow the orderly' conduct of affairs, particularly in- relation to the great puWio utilities, to bo controlled by tho irresponsibles, who undoubtedly for the time being are exercising such an evil sway over unionism. % Application is to be made to tho courts immediately to cancel the registration of and tho awards affecting all unions on strike SYDNEY WHARVES IDLE. SYDNEY:, August 10. There was a complete stoppage of work Along tho waterfront to-day owing to the wharf labourers' strike. Tho seamen aro restive, and any attempt on the part of steamship owners to introduce free labour would bring them out immediately. It is not likely tnat tho ownerj; will try" to utilise any other labour. The slaimer Canberra came into port from Melbourne, this morning with a full cargo, including shipments of fruit and other perishables. Thero was not a man on th©

wharf to handle it, and the vessel -will probably tako tho goods away to-morrow to Brisbane. Tho Bombala's cargo from Ouecnsland ports—also fruit and perishables —will bo taken on _to Melbourne. Tho steamer Saros, which has ironstono on board from South Australia for the Newcastle Steel Works, is to tie tip at Sydney Her freight may be handled by labour other than supplied by the unions, aa it is urgently required for Empire purposes. Where tho labour will come from remains to be seen. Meanwhile the ship will remain at the wharf. Tho steamer Indara, which is loading for West Australia, will leave Sydney to-morrow half full, and tho Gabo, also at the A.U.S.N. wharf, will lay up with' practically two holds full of cargo. The steamer Rupara ■in partly loaded at tho Adelaide Company's wharf, but will sail to-morrow for the north, takinnr passengara. Tlio coastal services are affocted by the strike, and m order to meet the urgent rush perumanent officials are striving to handle tho SSfSo' from ship to wharf and vico versa. The lllawarra Company and also tho Newcastle Company are doing all m their power to deal with perishables and to get their shins away*. Tho steamer Goulburn has laid up in Sydney. I Other coastal companies ore utilising office staffs to do tho work, .butter shipments from north and south will be i>avcd at all cost, but general merchandise will have to tako its chance. FOOD PRICES RISE. . SYDNEY, August 10. Ino market in Sussax street was dislocated to-dajj owing to the waterside workers strike. Stocks of. all commodities are low,, and if tho perishable goods aboard a number of steamers are not unloaded to-morrow they will rot, and thousands of pounds will bo lost. All commodities wore in very short supplv. Onions rose £1 a ton, and maizo 2d a bushel. There was tho usual demand for vegetables this morning, and as the market was lightly supplied: agents had no trouble m securing whatever prioo they desired. Chinese ,r forestallers" took most advantage of tho situatioh, and demanded tho record rate of 203 per dozen for cauliflowers. v/hile tho white distributer increased his pv'cos by only 4s to 15s a dozen. Second-class cabbagcs rose Is a dozen. French beans Is, and green peas 6d a buslioL

MEN AT WORK. The following statement, showing the position to-day in regard to tho -wages staff and tho total number now at work, was issued by tho Railway Department tonight Traffic, railways, 70 men have resumed to date, and 3133 men at work Darling Harbour staff. Fivo men resumed this morning; lie total number of men at work is 92. Looo., railways, approximately 600 men have resumed to date, and 2379 men aro at work on tho permanent way. One fitter's labourer returned for duty at White Bay this morning, and ono fettler at Evel-oigh, 3783 men being at work. These figures are oxolusivo of the men omployed on duplication and railway construction works, who total 2235. iraffle, trams, 57 men in all have resumed to date, and 187 drivers and conductors a,t work, making a total wages staff on duty of 612. In the electrical staff of the tramways 44 men have resumed to date, andi 826 men aro at work. Tho tramway engineer lias 224 men at work; signal engineer, 7 men resumed, and 274 men at work. This accounts for a total wages staff of 11,325 on duty today. This number is exclusive of 2235 men omployed on duplication and deviation works, who aro also on duty. RIFLES AND RIOT ACT. In the Now South Wales Assembly it was stated, in answer to a question, that the Riot Aofc had not been road in the military camps. Tho Riot Act did not apply to the military at all —its application was civil. Further, tho Commandant stated that the behaviour of tho soldiers in camp had been excellent. _As to the rumour that the authorities intended to place military patrols in tho city streets as a result of tho strike, tho Commandant bluntly pointed out that tho military had nothing to do with the strike in any shape or form.