AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16806, 20 November 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

RIOTS IN MELBOURNE STATE CABINET'S POSITION SYDNEY, Nov. S. The Melbourne waterside riots have been very embarrassing to the Victorian Labor Government, and more particularly to the Labor candidate for Victorian seats in the federal elections. The Premier of Victoria, Mr. Hogan. has been bitterly criticised. He has been at great pains to explain that industrial Labor was opposed to the waterside strike. "There have been mysterious influences at work to keep the strikers going.'' Mr. Hogan said. "I have been criticised for referring to such inllences. but any fair-minded man who considers the facts must recognise that such influences exist. Union officials received a summons to Sydney just alter the men had resumed work. The mysterious influences wore at once galvanised into extraordinary activity, going from place to place .and intimidating the men to refuse work. I ask Mr. Bruce what he knows of those influences." Mr, Hogan claimed that he had done everything possible to 'settle the strike, and bad settled it two or three times, but some mysterious influences had kept it going. There was, a great outcry among members of the Labor Party and the watersiders because the police tired on those who rushed flic pier gates in Melbourne last week. This, with a Labor Goverumout in power! It was too much for them —too unexpected and almost unbelievable. Mr Hogan. did not attempt to justify the shooting; he loft that to the Police Commissioner, .General Blarney. A DESPERATE SITUATION ct l have no hesitation in saying that the shooting was fully justified," said the commissioner. "The officer in charge' knew how despera.te tho position was, -and he acted on his own •responsibility. From Hie official report that 1 have received it seems .that a small body of men wore attacked by about 700 or 80.0 men, who drove them back along Hie pier. The police were obliged to draw their revolvers. They exploited vxory device to induce the strikers lo return to the pieking-up place, and the order was given io lire only when it was evident .that the police were about to be overwhelmed. They are always justified in using revolvers for their own protection. • '

The feeling of the strikers was in evidence again last Sunday, when they head a, meeting on the banks of the Virra. An Argus reporter, a. former New Zealander, was discovered, and he was brutally attacked by a mob of several hundred. He was "knocked to Hie ground, his notes were taken from him and destroyed, and he was kicked and punched. Ho escaped, serious injury only by the intervention of some men and .women "who still had aspark .of British fair play in their veins. However, the reporter was told that it would be advisable if he deserted his post, and the threats were such that lit; was left with no alternative if he valued his life. STATEMENT BY MR. BRUCE

Commenting on the disturbances the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, said .that it was the duty of the Slate Govern* incuts to maintain order, and the Commonwealth Government -was powerless in such matters. In the circumstances it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the State Government was recreant to its duty to see that men who came to the assistance of the nation -were protected. The State Ministry has an. obligation to protect these men, but it had not made a statement that it was prepared to do so. The Commonwealth had decided to do its part by cancelling tho licenses .of all. those watersiders who took part iii such threatening demonstrations as those which, had .taken place in Melbourne. That would mean that offenders would not lie permitted to work in the transport trade. <