MELBOURNE POLICE STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19015, 10 November 1923, Page 9

MELBOURNE POLICE STRIKE

NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS. APPOINTMENT OF SUPERVISORS DEFENDED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, November 9. No new developments are reported in the police strike. All interest is now centred on the next move by the industrial organisations. The Assembly read a second time the Public Safety Bill after bitter Labour opposition. In defending the employment of the supervisors, on account of whom the police struck, the Chief Secretary (Dr Argyle) said that the supervisors had discovered constables in bed who should have been on their beat. Others had been found, drunk on duty. A MYSTERIOUS LETTER. KU KLUX KLAN AUTHORSHIP SUGGESTED. MELBOURNE, November 8. The secretary of the Trades Hall Council has received a letter purporting to come from the Ku Klux Klan, It states. “So far tire Klan has taken no part in the present trouble, but we notice yonr purpose of adding fuel to a fire which has already done enough damage. We do not intend to stand quietly by and allow any militant body of unionists to take upon themselves the usurping of responsible government. While quietly gathering Strength, we have not taken any active part in politics, but as soon as you make any move to call out the other unions your leaders will be quietly removed, your power in these natters having passed.—For, and on behalf of, the Ku Klux Klan, signed, J. M. S.” The Trades Hall officials are inclined to take the letter seriously. PUBLIC SAFETY BILL PASSED. A 27 HOURS’ SITTING. MELBOURNE, November 10. (Received Nov. 9, at 8,20 p.m.) The Assembly, after 27 hours’ continuous sitting passed the Public Safety Bill. The only essentia] amendment was a new clause moved by Mr Lawson providing that nothing contained in the Bill should he regarded as giving the Government the right to impose industrial conscription. ADD AUSTRALIAN NEWS ! ! ! % TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ENFORCED. MOTORISTS UP IN ARMS. SYDNEY, November 9. (Received Nov. 9, at 8.20 p.m.) Following the, increasing frequency of accidents to pedestrians in the city streets the police have opened an intensive campaign against motor traffic. The courts are crowded, and heavy fines and suspensions are being inflicted for various infringements of the traffic rules. The authorities claim that the object is not persecution, but education in the muchneglected regulations. The motorists, who arc up in arms, reply that the regulations are absurd, obsolete, and quite unsuited to modern conditions. They contend that the traffic nolice fail to show or are incapable of showing proper discrimination.