HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 19

HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.

ONE STRIKER SHOT DEAD. RAILWAY FIREMAN WOUNDED. WELLINGTON, September 10. Special news of the Australian strikes received hero gives an indication of the seriousness of the position, and shows that the strike has on occasions led to physical violence. Industry in New South Wales is_ to a large extent; paralysed, and in Victoria has been seriously afi'ected. There are 5000 volunteer workers in camp on the Sydney Cricket Ground. There is the caso of a striker who attacked a volunteer worker being shot dead. This arose out of a violent affair in Bridge road, Camperdown. In a struggle that ensued two of the strikers were shot, one fatally. Reginald James Werne and Charles Thorpe, both volunteer workers, were making the return journey after having discharged a load of foodstuffs for the troops at the front. A number of men assailed them, and called out insulting remarks. Several of the assailants jumped on the wagon, and Thorpe was knocked from his seat. Werne stopped the horses and rushed to Thorpe's assistance. He drew his revolver and held the crowd off. Stone-throwing then commenced, and Werne fired at the legs of one man, wounding him. Another man knocked Werne down, and they struggled on the ground. Werne again fired his revolver, and his opponent collapsed, shot through the heart. A railway fireman on the Ulawarra lino was shot on August 27. The train was travelling fast at the time of the shooting, and was nearing Coledale. The enginedriver heard two shots, and at the same time Green, the fireman, said he had been hit. At the hospital it was found that he was suffering from a bullet wound in the forearm and another in the chest. He will recover. At the Silverton Tramway Company's premises at Broken Hill some plugs of a gelignite «letonator and fuse were discovered in the corner of one of the luildings. The charge apparently had been laid ready for firing. A number of men have been charged at Broken Hill with disorderly conduct. A mob of 500 or more went to the North Mine, drew the fires from the boilers, and so stopped the pumps. Arrests have been made, and the accused persons aro en remand.

News from Sydney dated September 4 contained the following:—

The gasworkers' strike eventuated yesterday, 700 employees of the Australian Gaslight Company " downing tools" when asked to work a cargo of volunteer-handled coal. This eventuality had been anticipated, and volunteers were ready. Within a couple of hours the majority of the places had been filled, and the production of gas was continued. The men at the North Sydney and Manly works are not yet out, but it is expected that they will follow a similar course of action when the present not large supplies of white coal are exhausted. This latest development has entailed further restrictions on gas for lighting and domestic purposes, the supply being cut down to between 5 and 10.30 p.m. only. Breakfast and luncheon have now to be provided without the assistance of gas. The coal supply is steadily increasing. Besides the pits already mentioned, where the output is daily improving, two other collieries are" now working with free labour in the Newcastle distnet—the Northern Extended and the Northumberland, —and the Metropolitan, in the South Coast district, is expected to start to-morrow. The Lord Mayor submitted fresh mediation proposals to the two sides yesterday in order to meet the Government ukase of its intention to stand by the loyalist volunteers.

Over 5000 railway and tramway men have resumed, bringing the total staffs up to nearly 60 per cent, of -what were engaged before the strike.

A statement issued by the Defence Committeo declares ■—" The general indication is that an attempt is being made by the other side to force a general strike throughout Australia. We see evideno-ea of it in this State and in Queensland and Victoria."

The Queensland Premier yesterdaj- wired to Mr Hughes and Mr Fuller stating that a foodstuffs famine was threatened in the Gulf districts of Queensland owing to a hold-up ol steamers plying there from Brisbane, and urging the absolute necessity for the despatch of a Gulf steamer. Mr Fuller immediately promised to send a special train laden with flour if the Queensland railwaymen would forgo their decision to hold up New South Wales traffic at the border. Subsequently a wire was received stating that all New South Wales traffio was being accepted. Mr Hughes also took Immediate eteps to send a steamer with the necessary foodstuffs.

The campaign against the I.W.W. under the Illegal Associations' Act is being rigorously conducted. Several more arrests have

been made, and at Broken Hill 32 members of the I.W.W. each received a sentence of six months' hard labour. With plenty of volunteer labour to call upon, work proceeds briskly at tho wharves handling the cargoes of arriving vessels and colliers, but no move has yet been made as regards the regular inter-State and overseas vessels. Arrangements are understood to be proceeding for the despatch of some of them.

MELBOURNE, September 4. The Wharf Labourers' Union has decided to pay strike pay at the rate of £1 per week.

AUCKLAND, September 10. Sydney advices of September 5 to hand today say: There has been a certain amount of disorder during the week, but no collision on an alarm scale between the forces of law and the strikers. Shots have been fired in different places at volunteers, and attempts have been made to wreck trains and destroy bridges, but, generally speaking, there has been a surprising lack of disorder, considering the extent of disaffection and the extreme bitterness existing between the gre-at bodies of men. There have been several attempts at mediation, the most recent by the Lord Mayor, and the men's terms, as announced by him, show that the strikers will go back to work unconditionally, except that they must. all get their jobs back. But the Government demands an absolutely unconditional surrender. It says it must protect the men who came to their aid and filled the strikers' positions, but, that done, it will not be ungenerous. As the question of "victimisation" is all that remains outstanding, the collapse of the strike may come at any moment. Industrial activity in Now South Wales is partially paralysed, but not hopelessly so. Victoria is seriously affected, and South Australia, West Australia, and Queensland slightly. The New South Wales trades which are wholly affected owing to their employees having been formally called out, are all the railway .and tramway men, all the wharf labourers, all the miners, and all the seamen ; while the carters, butchers, and gasworkers' employees and a great number of other unionists report many of their numbers idle owing to the refusal to handle " black" goods. The number ot men idle in New South Wales is incalculable, but it must run into six figures. It is reckoned that there are from 15,000 to 20,000 workers on strike in Victoria. The affected industries are wharf labourers, timber workers, confectioners' employees, coal miners, carters and drivers, match makers, seamen, and tanners. The greater number of these men ceased work because they would not handle "black" goods from the New South Wales railways. The men chiefly affected in the other States are mostly in the port towns. They are wharf labourers and seamen. The losses, of course, are colossal. It is calculated that in New South Wales alone the wages lost by unionists total £300,000 a week. Scores of little factories, in consequence of the general disorganisation, have had to close down. The weekly wages' loss is probably nearer £500,000, and this estimate is borno out by the weekly bank clearances. The effect of the strike _ upon the railway and tramway revenue is shown by the official returns for August. Compared with last year, the tramway receipts decreased by £87,056, and the railway receipts by £116,536—a total of £203,392. MOVEMENTS FROM DAY TO DAY. AUCKLAND, September 10. The following items about the Australian strike have been supplied by the Sydney agent of the Press Association: SYDNEY, August 11. The Strike Committee announced that, after a conference with the food-producing and distributing agents, it had decided against a general strike at present. The conference declared all wheat and flour arriving by train "black." The Newcastle wharf labourers have joined the strike, as also have the South Coast coke workers, despite an appeal to supply fuel for the munitions factories. Twelve thousand people are idle at Newcastle, and it is estimated that 54,000 are directly or indirectly affected. August 13. The lumpers have refused to coal any ships, including transports. The ship painters, dockers, and the employees at the Newcastle steel works have struck. The wharf labourers at Fremantle have refused to hajidlo flour for export to certain ports. The Victorian wharf labourers have declared a strike throughout Victorian ports, and all shipping was suspended, the men being permitted to load and despatch transports only. Mr Hughes declared that the Government would load the ships .in Queensland. All the seamen and firemen have come out. August 14. The president of the Railway Traffic Association has returned to work as a protest against the carrying of the I.W.W. banner and the singinsr of I.W.W. hymns in the strikers' processions. A number of guards and others have resumed work on similar grounds. The strikers have disavowed any oonnection with the 1.W.W., and have declined to allow it to participate in future parades. Tho State Government has commandeered motor vehicles and motor boats.

The engineers' and fitters' labourers in tho naval establishments at Cockatoo Island, Garden Island, and Mort's Dock have joined the strikers.

The vice-president of tho Seamen's Union was arrested on a charge of conspiracy. The men guarding tho wheat stocks in various parts of the commonwealth have left work.

The Lithgow ironworkers have struck, and the works have been closed, making altogether 7000 men out in the district. August 15. Tho Sydney slaughtermen have struck. The committee advised them to resume work, but when they offered their services they wero told that their places had been filled.

August 16. Tho tally clerks refused to check a fruit cargo 'by a New Zealand steamer, and volunteers replaced them. The number of idlo vessels is daily increasing. It is estimated that at Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane over 100,000 tons are held up. Notable defections from tho strikers ranks have occurred.

August 17. Tho strike is seriously interfering with shipping at Melbourno, including the loading of transports. Clerks and volunteers are unloading some vessels, but the -wharves are congested. In Sydney, besides the clerical/taffs, 800 country volunteers are assisting in unloading the ships. Many carters have resumed work. Thirty-eight inter-State vessels aro idle, tho tonnago being 124,133. A deputation representing tho tramway and railwaymen connected with the Orange Lodge attempted to arrange a settlement with Mr Fuller, and even suggested returning under the card system, but Mr Fuller answered that he could not alter fhe Government's decision. Tho strike had been broken as far as the tram and railway services were concerned. WELLINGTON, September 10. The following additional strike items were intended to be sent by cable by the Press Association's Sydney office, but were forwarded by mail: SYDNEY, August 20 Kavanagh, Thompson, and Willis were remanded on bail of £2OO each. The Defence Committee declared that the arrests would only steel the men to continue the strike. The police raided the Trades Hall and seized all the books and money collected for the relief of tho strikers. The Newcastle Defence Committee passed a resolution in favour of a general strike embracing the whole commonwealth. Mr Fuller announced that chore wert? sufficient volunteers, and that no more were wanted. Tho Broken Hill miners have struck, and have decided not to l-esume till the Sydney strike leaders are released. They also decided to pay no rent during tho currency of the strike. Seven thousand men are idle. Three hundred employees of the Colonial Sugar Refinery struck over the question of their award. Mr Fraser, at their request, , addressed 1500 of his employees, and endeavoured to prove that they were being misled on the strength of suspicions only. He solemnly promised that there was no intention to introduce the Taylor or any other bad American card system or to speed up. He reiterated his previous promises, and disclaimed any idea of victimisation. Further conferences between the Strike Committee and Mr Fraser proved futile August 21. Over 2000 volunteers are working on the wharves and elsewhere. At a meeting the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia decided to assist the Government in any capacity. A good number of the coastal steamers are now running. A butter famine and a shortage of sugar and salt are the chief disabilities, otherwise tho conditions in the city are now largely normal.

Over 2000 tram and railwaymen have resumed work. The places of 1900 have been filled by volunteers. The surfacemen and others keeping the coal mines in order have been called out. The proprietors have taken steps to prevent the flooding of the pits. The Commonwealth Government has taken control, of all tne available coal.

SYDNEY, August 22. The miners have refused the ultimatum to return to work. The Government has issued a proclamation taking possession of all the coal mines in the State. The Broken Hill Labour Council has called a general strike in the Barrier district. * August 24.

The use of pros in shops, restaurants, hotels, and boarding houses has been prohibited. ~-,,', Including those who remained loyal and those who have returned to work, over 20,000 men are now working on railways and tramways. ■ Mr Fuller, in replying to a number of indirect overtures regarding a settlement, emphatically refused to have further negotiations with the strike committees, which ho described as illegal bodies. The first 'serious disturbance during the strike at Broken Hill occurred today. Large drafts of South Australian and other police went thither. A crowd attempted to rescue a prisoner and raid the police station, but the police charged with batons. They scattered the crowd and arrested nine people. Other crowds visited some of the mines, doused the fires, and forcibly removed the engineer. The continued arrival of volunteers in Sydney has necessitated forming more camps. Hundreds of women are offering their services in any capacity. A fleet of colliers, with scratch crews, is bringing coal for urgent requirements. . August 25.

The position in regard to the railways has so greatly improved that the commissioners yesterday were able to give an hourly service till 11 o'clock at night on the suburban lines. Another bomb has been dropped on the strike leaders' camp. Mr Buckley, a member of the Legislative Assembly, who has taken a prominent part hi strike matters, has been arrested on charges of conspiracy and sedition. He was allowed bail in the sum of £2OO. The employees at the Riverstone Meat Woi-ks have broken away from their union, and have decided to resume work. A Federal Order has closed all the licensed premises at Broken Hill and Port Pirie. The Broken Hill strikers have appointed a committee to keep order. Au crust 27. The first contingent of free labour to work the Wolla.roh colliery has been deSTMtched. * The bakers have decided against a strike.

Nearly 1800 women have volunteered for various services. In regard to the wounding of the railway fireman named Green, it is nlieged that Green was previously warned to be careful, because he remained loyal to the commissioners. The Government lias offered a reward of £IOOO for the discovery of the perpetrator. Over 300 railwaymen and tramwaymen resumed work to-day, despite which meeting-? of tranrwaymen at various depots decided to continue the strike. Buckley has been remanded on charges of seditious utterances and conspiracy. BRISBANE. August 27. The Queensland Government has sent an ultimatum to the northern railwaymen to resume work on Tuesday or be dismissed. At Mackay and Cairns the men have resumed. The Railwaymen's Union has declared all goods coming over the New South Wales border black, and refuse to handle them. MEDBOURNE, August 27. Seven hundred employees of the South Melbourne timber yards refused to handle timber which had been unloaded by nonunionists. • The Carriers' Union has decided not to touch goods handled by volunteers. ADELAIDE. August 27. At Port Pirio the men decided against a 1,1 SYDNEY. August 28. At a mass meeting- of tramwaymen it was resolved not to resume work till the men were ordered back by the Defence Committee. Meat prices have been fixed. Mr Fuller has made an announcement that the Government was in possession of evidence showing that long before the card system was introduced a scheme was secretly originated for holding up the whole of Australia by means of a general strike. I he scheme came off some months before the Secret Strike Committeo was ready owing to the impossibility of controlling the red ratr clement. MELBOURNE, August 28. The whole of the timber mills in the metropolitan area are closed, throwing 3000 men idle. It is estimated that altogether 14.000 men are now out. The Government has notified that unless the miners return on Monday it will permanently close the State coal mine. LAUNCESTON, August 23. The waterside workers at Burnie have struck, necessitating the closing of the harbour works. SYDNEY. August 29. The Strike Committee denies Mr Fuller's statement that a general hold-up in Australia was premeditated, and it challenge:' him to prove his baseless and groundless chnrges. The arrival of country volunteers continues, and over 5000 are now in the camps It is officially stated that the general revenue from the railways "vx\ tramways for the week ended Angu«t 25 was 70 per cent, and the goods traffic 60 per cent, of that in normal times. The tram and suburban train services are

almost normal, and the. country services ire steadily improving. s An attempt was made- to blow up the Sili'orton tramway workshops, but otherwise Broken Hill is quiet. ' The Government has commandeered all the colliers. The first cargo from the pits worked by the Government has arrived. Two piers at the. Wollaroh jetty, where r.he Govcvrnmfnt coal is being chipped,' were damaged by an explosion. The perpetrators escaped. Eleven hundred strikers have resumed work during the past two days. BRISBANE, August 29. After taking a secret ballot, the Townsville raihvavmen decided to resume work. MELBOURNE, August 29. Mr Groom has received a telegram from Toowoomba stating that a serious industrial disturbance had occurred in New Zealand, that 150 Queenslanders were killed, and -hat altogetuer there were 1500 casualties. Mr Hughes subsequently stated that he had received a cablegram from Mr Massey absolutely denying the reports, and adding that the dominion industrially was quiet from one end to the other. SYDNEY. Angus* 30. The tram conductors at Broken Hill have joined the strike. George Ken- (president of the Australian Workers' Association) has been arrested at Broken Hill. The Coal Board has recommended the fixing of the price of large coal, f.0.b., Newcastle, at 20s per ton, and of small at 16s. The ferries are further curtailing their services owing to the shortage, of coal. MELBOURNE, August 30. At a gathering of 50? 0 people it was de* cieled not to pay rent during the strike. The gathering attempted to go in a procession to the Federal Parliament House, but the mounted police charged and dispersed it. Mr Justice Higgins has deleted the preference to unionists clause in the waterside workers' awards affecting Sydney, 'Melbourne, and Fremantle, but he postponed its operation for a week to enable the men to return to work. SYDNEY. August 31. At the rermest of labour women and strikers' wives, the Lord Mayor (Mr Meagher) offered his services as mediator. He conferred with Mr Fuller. Ten more arrests have been made at Broken Hill in connection with the recent raid on the mines, when a crowd forced those in charge of the engines to leave. The sunken Morinda has been declared "black," and the shipwrights refuse to work on her. Eleven thousand tons of coastal shipping is now running. MELBOURNE, August 31. There has been another collision between the police and' same strikers, who were demonstrating in favour of cheaper food outside the Federal Parliament. The police dispersed the crowd with batons, and arrested six, including Miss Adela Pankhurst.

eight unions expressed confidence in the leaders, and resolved on solidarity. The executive of the Australian Workers' Union—the largest organisation—has decided to remain neutral.

September 3. The Lord Mayor's negotiations have failed.

The Government is refusing to budge from its determination that loyalists who have come to its assistance shall be retained.

The Defence Committee is demanding that all the stinkers shall be re-instatod The Lord. Mayor continues his efforts, and submits fresh proposals. The police raided an I.W.W. meeting at Broken ITill and arrested 28 people. MELBOURNE, September 3.

Mr Justice H'ggins has granted an application for the re-registration of the Waterside Workers' Federation at all ports excepting Port Pirie. The order was made returnable for Monday next.