VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 27

VICTORIAN RAILWAY STRIKE.

THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT STRUGGLE. BREAKDOWN OF THE fciRIKE SERVICE. SEVERAL ACCIDENTS REPORTED. GREAT EXCITEMENT IN MELBOURNE. i • ! THE STRIKE LIKELY TO SPREAD. DOMESTIC PROVISIONS ADVANCED 25 PER CENT. THE GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT. ATTEMPTS ,TO BLOCK TRAINS. BUSINESS FIRMS REDUCING HANDS. THOUSANDS WILL PROBABLY | LOSE THEIR WORK. OVER 1300 MEN ON STRIKE. MELBOURNE, May 5. ! The Cabinet did not deal further with the railway question beyond receiving from the Premier an account of his interview with the men. ! The Premier pointed out to the men that their connection with the Trades Hall carried with it an obligation to support other societies involved in outside labour troubles and disputes. Were this not so, it would be no use the men belonging to or being affiliated with the Trades Hall. He could only regard their insistence upon affiliation with the Trades Hall, as at present constituted, as an insistence of the right of the rail- ! way men to strike when they thought proper. If, however, ordinary associai tion with the Trades Hall to secure its literary advantages, such as the use of mechanics' institutes, were required, he thought he could see his way to make 1 an arrangement satisfactory to the men, and the Government would be prepared to discuss it if the men obeyed the order given. They were also willing to give them time to discuss the matter. Ho I finally expressed his finn determination to do his duty. { The men have accepted the Premier's ! offer in the spirit of conciliation in which it was made, and all the executive officers' have been granted a day's leave in order to meet to-day to discuss the situation. The railway dispute is in almost a hopeless position to-night. The delegates of the railway men had another interview with the Premier, at which they refused absolutely to sever affiliation. The Premier asked the delegates if they were aware that they had adopted j a worse position of disobedience than | before. Their action appeared as an indication that they did not trust him. He. deprecated the .societies exacting conditions at the point of the bayonet. Tho secretary of the TracVs Hall has received promises of financial support from the railway men of New South Wales and Western Australia. May 6. The Premier again conferred with the railway men to-day. J All negotiations in connection with the railway trouble arc at an end. The executive officer? of the four societies interested met tho Premier again to-day, and in each case informed him they were willing to confer with him with the view of arriving at scmo settlement, but could not recommend the men to withdraw from affiliation with the Trades- Hall. The Premier replied that nil he cculd say was that they had not fully understood nor appreciated his dc=sire for conciliation. He had nothing more to say. The men having thanked the Premier for his courtesy and forbearance tlu? meeting immediately ended. It is expected tho Government will announce definite action to-night. Th;» men will also probably issue a manifesto. The Cabinet met after the final refusal of the men to obey the order to withdraw from the Trades Hall. Tho Premier announced that the Commissioner of Railways, after consultation with the Cabinet, would to-night issue a notice to the members of the executive of the railway societies that unless they obeyed orders to withdraw before Tuesday, the 12th inst., they will be 1-e-moved, and their services dispensed wi:h without further notice. In view of the situation the Premier asks the Governor to summon Parliament for the 13th inst. May 7. General meetings of every branch of

J the various railway societies will be held I to-night, and on their decisions the executives will determine their course of action. The president of the Amalgamated Society states that if Parliament passed a law prohibiting their affiliation the men would observe it, though under protest. They relied upon Parliament to recognise the justness cf their contentions. There is no doubt that the ringleaders of what the Premier terms "the revolt" are the executive officers of the Enginedrivers' Association, and that what they decide to-night the others will follow, j It is understood that a measure will be submitted to Parliament forbidding the affiliation of the railway unions with the Trades Hall. The Ape says that the Ministry has wisely determined that Parliament shall dissolve the railway crisis. ' The Argus says : " That the public approves of the action of the Government is beyond doubt, and that Parliament will also do so is beyond question. The Opposition must unite with the Ministry to maintain the authority of Parliament." A Gazette has been issued summoning Parliament. Each of the 49 members of the executives of the four unions has received the notice referred to yesterday, stating that unless they withdraw by next Tuesday they will be dismissed without further notice. The utmost secrecy is observed amongst the men. An order issued by the executives that they were not to talk about the crisis has been obeyed in a manner which is a revelation of their unity and discipline. May 8. The railway men have received a cable of sympathy, from the Auckland Labour Council. There are 11,482 men involved in the dispute. The combined funds of the four unions amount to £72,000. A prominent railway officer says that there will be no strike in the event of the members of the executives being dismissed. They will carry the matter to the Appeal Board, and finally to the Supreme Court. The executive of the Engine Drivers' Association this morning forwarded a letter to the Commissioner asking to be definitely informed whether or not the Government had the courage to stand by its orders as lawful orders, and add- | ing : "Wo presume the Government finds its legal position unsound and desires Parliament to retrospectively validate its illegal acts. A.s such an unfair course is intended, we have to think seriously of the step we hope to avoid. We have full authority to warn you that you have driven us to the only course open to us, and that all our men will cense work on Saturday at noon unless | the orders which the Government issued are withdrawn by 5 o'clock this afternoon. It is now stated that unless the Government gives way the strike will commence at midnight to-night. The Cabinet has been sitting since noon discu>.:-ing the situation. The Go- ' vernment has offered two months' double I I salary to all employees remaining loyal. I The railway authorities are refusing to j book passengers to stations not reached t before midnight. All goods' traffic is ! beiug refused. Intense excitement prevails in the city. j A strike is now inevitable. i The Cabinet's reply to the Engine Drivers' letter informed the men that the Government's orders could not be withdrawn. The Premier states that all men leaving duty will forfeit their rights to pensions or compensation. The Government lias arranged train services in the event of a strike. No train will run at night. Suburban traffic will be restricted to three hours? in the morning aud four in the afternoon. Where tramways serve the suburbs trains will be discontinued. The speed will be reduced by one-third. Only one train daily will run to .Sydney, the journey occupying -ix hours longer, and 48 hours will be consumed between Melbourne and Adelaide. The department can count on GO engineers and the same number of firemen, consisting chiefly of men retired on pension. May 9. Large crowds gathered at the principal .stations to see the men come out, and the feeling at times ran high, cheers and hooting alternating. As the last trains came in the drivers and firemen did not bother about taking their engines to the sheds, but simply drew the fires and turned off steam at the spot they happened to be when the clock struck 12. The station yards are dotted with engines in the most unusual places, and it will require a good many of the > Government's loyal drivers to clear the . lines for traffic. | Great crowds thronged Collins street j during the afternoon, and business was practically at a standstill, the coming j strike being the absorbing topic. Only those acquainted with Melbourne

and its train system can realise the seriousness of the situation brought about by the strike. The effect was felt early, when the Gb» Ternment at 1.30 p.m. refused to receive goods. Then the draymen and camera were forcibly reminded that many of. them would be thrown idle by the railway men's act. Even the restricted service arranged by the Government is regarded as too optimistic. The utmost difficulty will be found in getting the trains throughv to country districts. The Government has decided to advertise in every State and in New Zea* land for men. If they are not forthcoming, an effort will be made to gefe men from India, America, and Britain. One result of the strike has been atf increase in the price of food products! Bullocks went up with a jump to £15* AH fruit and fish supplies are stopped. Milk advanced Id per quart, chaff 10s af ton, butter Id a pound, and potatoes 5s per ton. Many of the executive of the Railway. Men's Unions are entitled to coinpensa-' tion ranging from £200 to £565, or to pensions of 'from £52 to £113. Both Mr Irvine (the Premier) and. Mr Bent (Minister of Railways) were greeted! with hooting and counter cheers on appearing in the street. The secretary of the enginemen is con-^ fident of success. He says that there ia no chance of the department instituting a service of any value to the public. Men who are not used to the roads cannot ran the engines without endangering human life, besides which the engines would be in a disgraceful condition, and will fail in the hanck of inexperienced men. Early to-day it was found impossible to carry out even the partial time-table arranged yesterday, owing to there not being enough drivers and fireman, a number of those who were expected failing to turn up. A largo crowd gathered at Spencer street and other stations to watch the* despatch of trains, including many, strikers, who used efforts to induce those who had taken their places to join them. Beyond this and a little hooting the proceedings were quiet and orderly. It was close on 8 o'clock before the first suburban train got away, and very few were despatched up to noon. The country service was cancelled, and the sale of tickets stopped early in the morning. The usual mail train' to Sydney was amongst those stopped. The scene in the city in the morning was extraordinary. The travelling public, early realising that the temporary service was a failure, rushed the trams and 'busses, which put forth all available resource", while all descriptions of vehicles were eagerly pressed into the .service. Bicyclists turned out in great force. Many thousands perforce had to be content with walking. From Princes Street Station only the service to Camberwell was attempted, and even that was too great a strain. Three trains were sent out early in the morning. The first went through all right. The second had not moved 10 yards when it broke down. Only one had returned up to 10 o'clock. A similar state of affairs prevailed afc Flinders street. Altogether, up to 10 o'clock only sis suburban trains had been despatched. Just as one was entering an accident- happened. Gauge (a volunteer driver} and the fireman jumped off. Nothing serious resulted, but they were relieved of further duty. The Westinghouse brakes not being used, a majority of the trains are considered unsafe. A volunteer driver of one of the early trains was just- ready to start from' Spencer street, but when the -••-••' 1 blew the whistle the driver tpok up his coat and stepped off tho footboard. Two accidents are reported so far. A train being taken out by a retired driver at Port Melbourne ran off the line, it is alleged, owing to the signals not operating properly. The traffic was blocked all morning. The second accident was more serious. A goods train from Benalla to Melbourne was derailed at Avenal. Several trucks and the engine are lying across the track. Great damage was done to the rolling stock and permanent waj 7 . Owing to the strike conditions it has been found impossible to 'clear the line. Crowds of strikers and sympathisers gathered at the stations. It is reported the engineers in the tramway power houses have decided to join in. the strike. The express from Sydney arrived an hour late. It is alleged that the delay was caused owing to the rails on a steep gradient having been greased. Trains are side-tracked all along the country lines. Live stock is being taken out, but goods left untouched. Excepting in the city and suburbs, mails are undelivered, and there is a great block at the General Post Office. In consequence of this the telegraph offices will be specially open at certain I hours to-morrow (Sunday) for the con-* venience of the public. The secretary of the Engine-drivers* Association is greatly elated afc th« breakdown of the service.

With one or two exceptions, thG whole bf the members of the association obeyed the call out. A social, commencing at midnight, for the purpose of keeping the strikers together, was held in the Trades Hall last night. Included in the addresses were several from X 1 ederal Labour senators and members of the State Parliament, whose sympathies are with the men. The Government, though faced with the fuet that their promised service has broken down, state that in a few days they will easily bs able to get enough men to carry out their promises, and give a fairly effective service. M'- Bent declares that he i< confident th;s Government must and snail win. The sorriest men in the country will presently be the drivers and firemen. Excitemeut is at fever heat in the city. Police forces are at the Melbourne stations. A policeman also accompanies each train, but so far there has not been the least call for their services. . It is rumoured there is a possibility of the shunters and signalmen striking. It is reported that the fitters have struck, but this needs confirmation. The Age this morning says that the sudden resolve of the Engine-drivers' Executive to strike came like a bolt from the blue. It seems to have been no part of the men's original campaign. Theirs is not a strike for bettor pay, fairer treatment, or better conditions. The Premier distinctly promised that hj would see that all real grievances of *he railway men were redressed, therefore j •cLure can be no parade of grievances to justify the strike, and the contest of the men is to exalt themselves in authority above Parliament and the Government of the country. "We venture to say," the paper adds, " that no body of men in any State exhibited a more selfish and callous indifference to the interests of fellow citizens." May 10. Domestic provisions have advanced 25 per cent. The Government freezing works are closed down, owing to the railway strike, throwing over 100 men idle. The strike has completely dislocated trade throughout the State. One of the most serious phases of the paralysis of traffic is exhibited in inland centres, where the possibility of a stiike was considered co remote that the majority of country tradespeople were caught napping. When it was seen to be inevitable, orders were .sent to Melbourne in shoals, but came too late to bo fulfilled. At present there is no prospect of a country train service. The outlook, if the strike is protracted, is serious. The signalmen are awaiting developments. It is understood that they will consider the Government's further action on its merits, or, if called on, vhey are prepared to strike. The tramway employee.; are not associated ,• their terms of employment guard against striking. To-day saw no important developments. !A few suburban trains were run. Crowds gathered at the various railway stations to watch events, but, generally, everything was quiet ana orderly. On Saturday there was a slight dis-. turbance in North Melbourne, where some non-unionists were chased and hooted, but there was nothing serious. A sub-committee of the Cabinet has been appointed to deal with the strike. It holds continuous sittiugs, and the men's executives are also iv constant session. The Governme* t is firm and confident that it will eventually overcome the resistance of the men. The men are jubilant at their success, and aqually firm and confident. fishing industry will suffer severely. About 500 fishermen are virtually thrown idle owing to there being no trains to carry their fish. May 11. Several attempts to block the trains are reported. Near Moouee 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. The derailment of an engine at Seymour was ; rvie to a similar cause. The goods sheds in Spencer street are strongly guarded by police. Already the shipping is beginning to feel the effects of the rush for berthing accommodation. More vessels will be put on. Delay is being caused in handling cargo owing to want of railway facilities. The real pinch of the position trill not be felt for a few days. Several large firms are taking steps to reduce their hands as a result of the slackness in business, and it is expected that before the end of the week several thousand employees will be thrown out pf work. The Argus says that the strikers have under-e-tiinated the steady, determined, jmd unflinching front the community will oppose to tr.e attempted dictation of a small minority. The autocratic Governments of Europe have a short way of jputting through these cases, but the strength" of si democratic Government in .such air emergency has now to be tested. All the leadiug inter-State newspapers publish lenders condemnatory of the men's action. They consider that the men have beeu badly advised, and that the blunder must end in lasting defeat. Speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet, the Premier said tiiatj come what

May 11

' might, the community would never allow the control 01 its property to pass into the hands of any section cf the community whatever. They would never hand down to their children a heritage of surrender and misgovemnent. The secretary of the Engine-drivers and Firemen's Association states that out of between 1300 and 1400 members, not more than 15 remain in the service. No trains were run yesterday. The Government are confident of getting a better service at work to-day. The State Government has received many offers of assistance. It intends to run the Melbourne-Sydney express today at any cost. The victims in tho North Melbourne scrimmage were the driver and fireman of the Korumburra train. They were hooted and hustled by a crowd of strikers, who tried to coerce them to leave work. The driver refused. He was knocked down and roughly handled as he mad"c his way through a crowd of strike sympathisers. The efforts of the strikers were more successful with the fireman, who joined them. Two arrests were made. A few other isolated instances are reported where there has been violent coercion or threats, chiefly from strikers and sympathisers, the men being prevented from going to work. The passengers by the express to Adelaide, amongst whom was Mr Kingston (Federal Minister of Commerce), uad an unpleasant experience. The train was left stranded across the points at StavelL Inspector Leslie as driver and a clerk as fireman took charge. There was a breakdown and a long delay at Glenorchy, where another engine was' procured, but it was not sufficiently powerful, the greaseu. lines on the gradi1 ents also impeding progress. The train arrived 11 hours late. The strikers anticipate that a levy on the railway men in other States alone will yield £2000 weekly. Strike affairs are quiet. Both sides are settling down to a grim battle. The Railway Department did not attempt much to-day, owing to fewer drivers being available than on Saturday. They confined the suburban trains to a modified service on a few lines, but these were despatched with reasonable regularity. A welcome feature of the day was the despatch of trains to Ballarat, Bendigo, Warragul, and Albury. There were 14 passengers ou the Litter, vhile the others were only sparingly patronised. The Gov«ru,nient has made arrangements that the men running the trains shall deep and have their meals at the Spencer street shed=, so as to preclude the necessity of running the gauntlet of the crowd outside. The sheds are strongly guarded by police, who keep the approaches clear. It is reported that the strikers are advised from America that £20,000 is available if required. The Engineers' Executive has received hundreds of sympathetic telegrams from all parts of Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. They assert that their members are increasing, the men 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, they consider picketing unnecessary. They -disclaim any sympathy with the gospel of violence and interference with trains preached by Yarra bank orators. The executive earnestly enjoined members to take no part in acts of vandalism and rowdyism. They are acting lawfully, and will continue to do so. They claim that the strikers rescued the driver in Saturday night's scrimmage in North Melbourne. A meeting of the softgoods trade decided that they would be compelled to •close their factories sooner or later, owing to inability to forward orders. The timber mills' supplies are cut off. Messrs Sharp and Sous aud Messrs James Moore and Co. have been compelled to close, and 230 hands have been thrown idle. Trade generally is stagnant. Numbers of firms have notified their hands that their services will probably not be required nest week. There is a great demand for condensed milk, tinned meat?, and fish. Prices are str- \g ,and show an advance. Large shipments of wheat are arriving, and dispel the fear of a serious rise in breadstuffs. The train to Albury was compelled to otop at Wangaratta, owing to a breakdown of the engiue, and remains there all night. The Hue was found to have been greased ou some inclines. SYDNEY, May 8. The local Labour Council has passed strong resolutions expressing their disgust at the action of the Victorian Government iv bringing about an industrial crisis by forcing the railway men i to .stand up for their lights as men, or be shackled like bond slaves. i The council, which numbers 40,000 , members, has pledged itself to support ! the men in " the atrocious treatment i meted out to them." The Hon. E. W. O'Sullivau (Minister of Works), speakiug at a banquet given l»y the Stonemasons' Union, ventured the opinion that the trouble would end in favour of the men. All they asked for was freedom, and the great heart of the people of Australia sympathised with them.

Mr O'Sullivan's references to the Victorian railway dispute are adversely criticised in many quarters. Mr Crick, when his opinion was asked, depicted his colleague as a man who broke out at any time, in any place, and on any subject. May 9. The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the strike, says : "In the circumstances the duty of all concerned, however remotely interested in the matter, is to refrain from saying or doing anything which will tend to promote or strengthen the difficulty. In this connection it is particularly to be regretted that a member of our own Ministry has permitted himself to be led into an expression of opinion which may cause the strikers to believe that they have the sympathy of ctr Government." The Daily Telegraph says : " Boiled down, the reason given for the precipitation of hostilities is the fear of Parliament. The act of the Government in convening the constitutional representatives cf the people is denounced as being the result of a desire to settle the question by legislation, and that it is for the purpose of anticipating this unfair course, as it is called, that the strike has been declared. The unions have taken a course intended to defeat the supremacy of Parliament, and to set up in its place the coercive rule of a strike committee. The conduct of a responsible Minister of the State like Mr O'Sullivan in rushing to take sides against parliamentary government in Victoria can only be described as lamentablp." May 10. The first levy on the New South Wales railway men in support of the strikers, on the basis of one day's pay per fortnight, resulted in £750. This will be continued until the trouble is ended. A meeting of the New South Wales branch of the Railway Men's Federation to-day discussed the situation, and satisfaction at the success of the strikers' effort and willingness to increase the levy if required were expressed. The tramway employees are also supporting. Excepting for the block to the InterState mails, the strike has so far had little effect in New South Wales. May 11. With the exception of chaff, which has advanced £1 per ton, and a rise of 2d to 3d in maize, the Victorian strike has so far had little appreciable effect on the produce market. Arrangements are complete for forwarding mails to and from Melbourne by steamer until a through train service is again assured. The Duznbea to-day took large consignments, including English mails. These will be shipped to the Orotara, which is detained iv Melbourne till Wednesday. Saturday's Melbourne mail arrived by steamer to-day. The English mail by the Rome is coming on from Melbourne, and reaches Sydney two days late. The first direct effect of the strike in New South Wales was fe!t at Albury. All the casual railway hands there were discharged. The Cabinet discussed the Victorian strike, and decided to maintain a neutral position. The recent utterances of Mr O'Suliivan, who is absent in the country, were talked over. The Premier declined to state what transpired. It is rumoured that developments are not unlikely. LONDON, May 11. The Standard says that the strike of Victorian railway servants, besides being immediately injurious to Victoria's prosperity, is a manifestation of general danger to the Commonwealth. The paper characterises it as a deliberate attempt of a political party to control the machinery of business in order to dictate to the Government. It declares that Mr Irvine is right to incur any hazard to prevent a section of the community acquiring dictatorial power. The M online Post says that if the Government remains firm there is no doubt as to the final issue. It is monstrous that irresponsible strikers should have power :o dislocate traffic and interfere with the convenience and comfort ' of millions of people. The Daily Graphic declares that since civil servants have bren granted direct legislative representation the action of the labour bodies is all the more indefensible. NEW ZK\L\ND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE. ': The .Southland Trader and Labour Council has wirr-d its sympathy with the Victorian railway mfii. and promised monetary avsUtano*, if necessary. The Otago Trade* and Labour Council yesterday cabled the secretary ol the Engine-drivers' Union. Melbourne, as follows: — ".Sympathy to the men on strike: financial aid if necessary." In the event of a reply acepptinp the offer of assistance a special meeting of the council will be railed to bring the matter before the affiliated union?. Tiio Executive of the "Wel]in<rton Wharf Labourers' Union has instructed its secretary to eo-oporate with the officers of the other WHlinprton unions in giving assistance to th<» Victorian railway men. A Christchurch telegram states that the Cantprbury Trades and • Labour Council •passed a motion of Fympathy with the Victorian railway men out on strike. EFFECT ON TOWN AND COUNTRY. FROM A BUSINFRS MAX'S POINT OF VIEW. One of our representatives yesterday waited upon a prominent business man in Dunedin who is thoroughly conversant with ' Victorian business affairs to ascertain from him the probable effect of the strike on

Melbourne and its surroundings. In reply to the qu&stion our informant, an ex-presi-dent of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, said : — There are three or four views of the question. First of all, there is the point of view of the ordinary business man or merchant, who has to sell his goods to the country districts and deliver them. The bulk of this is doao by rail, and when the railway stops his business practically cease 9. Then there is the inward traffic from the country to the city. All produce and meat supplies are aifected. Produce will, of course, lx> restricted for a whil-e. Live. stock may be diivcn. but that means an increase in the price. There is also the question of the coal supply, which comes in by rail. That may result in the closing of the gasworks and the stoppage of a number of industries, and we must remember that the cold season is now oomiujr on. To my mind, one of the worst features of the strike is the almost complete stoppage of the coal stipply. Anyone looking at the map of Victoria will notice how the railways from all over the colony verge towards the metropolis. Practically, if the railways stop the whole of the bvfiincss stops. It would not matter so much in Now Zealand, where wo have a seaboard, but the whole of the commerce of Victoria is reticulated through the railways. The country districts are largely dependent on the town for daily supplies, and in those localities where goods run short I consider they must reach hig-h, if not famine, prices. For the country districts the strike has happened at a fairly good time, because at this psason of the year a.ll fanniug operations are over and farmers arc now ploughing. Then there is another aspect of the que^-

ition. Melbourne and suburbs have a popu* : lation. of, say, 450,000, and, perhaps, 120,003 of this number com© into the city or its immediate surroundings to business or to -work every day. A great number of these- must be affected by the stoppage of the railways. ' The trams will no doubt accommodate many of them, and the tram authorities may be reJied on to utilise everything with, wheels on it with the view to taking as many people as possible into the centre. As long as the trams run themajority of these people will get intr ■ the town somehow, but if the engine-drivers go out it will be a still more serious matter than it is at present. The trams servo people very well withiu a radius of six miles of the centre, but outside that there is no service but the railway. DEMAND FOR NEW ZEALAND FOODSTUFFS. WELLINGTON, May 11. Inquiries are already coming to hand by cable for steamer space for foodstuffs from. New Zealand for the Melbourne market. WHAT MR BENT SAYS. In the course of an interview with a representative of the Argus Mr Bent, Mfmister of Railways, said: — "Let me tell you, there will be no more playing business. The societies havo had three months in which to make up their minds. The Government has well considered the matter from every point, cf view. And we have not started without, kuowing what the next jump is, I can aesuro you. We are fully deternv-nied that the order of the Corcnvi-sioner shall be carried out. I notice by the Argus this morning that Mr Scorer sa ya they have all Australia

Ibehind them. Well, we think we have Ausjfcralia behind üb, too. At anyrate, tre have ifche owners of the railways behind us. The Government fully recognises the seriousness pf the position, but if the members of the (executives do not carry out the order of the |Commi«sioner they will be dismissed. There Ftrill be no referemee of the question to the Appeal Board. Under regulation 2 they ihave to pay implicit obedience to these in authority. If they do not carry out 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 ccc what they will do. I hope, however, that ithe men will show their good Beiise by obeying. The way they have been going on ever since I have been here has been very ihard on me. In the interests of the public Ithe Government considers that combinations <of railway men should not be connected with any bodies outside. These men have special privileges, it must be remembered. They get higher rates of wages than any other workers in the community. They have privileges that the public is not aware of, and the least they can do is to keep to .themselves. Yet they break the regulations an all directions. No employee has any right *o engage in any business. Notwithstanding this, I found that one engine-driver was running a publichouse at Prahran. Some of the men have farms. I had a letter the other day stating that tho wife of one railway officer met passengers at Ararat, and touted for her boarding-houee. It is also stated that, even at Kensington, they take in boarders. Some of the employees who receive travelling expenses ' dos* with the Rangers along the line, or sleep in the stores. They take the expenses all the same. If they start to fijrht, and the* thing w exposed, the public will know what has been done .with their property." It was not until after the reduction of Wages in consequence of the policy of retrenchemnt that the railway servants joined the Trades Hall. The result was that en January 19 the- Commissioner of Railways ftsfiucd a notification stating that " any affiliation or other connection, either direct or indirect of any body or association of railway employees with the Trades Hall Council, or with any other body, society, or union •vlvioh takes an active interest in politics is directly opposed to the purpose and spirit of regulation No. 32, which enacts that ' No employee shall be a member of a political association of a<ny kind.' " The unions were accordingly instructed to take the necessary etepe to sever their connection with the Trades Hall. This they were disinclined to do, and for a while the matter was left in abeyance; but last month they were again called upon by the Government to withdraw. This the four EOcieties formally refuged to do, and «ach of the 40 me raters of the executive of the four unions received notice that unless they obeyed the order by the 12th -inGt. they would be summarily dismissed ; Parliament being called together on the 13th inst. The reply to that ultimatum was a notice, that unless the order to sever connection with the Trades Hall was withdrawn the men would strike, practically at once. The Locomotive Engine-drivers and FireSnen'e Society has over 1000 members, aud is reputed to be very wealthy. The executive conducts its business with great secrecy, not even the rank and file of members knowing much of what was done. The society is affiliated with the Drivers' Unions of all the other States. The Daily Paid Union !ha« about 2000 members, mostly porters, rtioket-collectors, etc. The Carriage Builders' Union comprises something like 200 members, all employed at the Newport Workshops. The amalgamated society is very strong so far as membership ia concerned, having a roll of about 5000.