A Position that Must be Ended

Southland Times, Issue 19034, 30 April 1903, Page 2

A Position that Must be Ended

Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph— Copyright

MELHOfRNE. April 2

The Railway Commissioners, in tin interview with the execut ive officers of I lit 1 railway societies, which decline to withdraw from the Trades Hall, intimated that ajj^ order would he issued requiring thoiii within three days to sever their connection with the Trades Hall, or to resign their positions as executive oflicers of the societies. There is great excitement amongst the men. who are holding- meetings to discuss the situation.

THE OTHER SJDE. SYDNEY, April 2.) Received WHh, 1-..~>8 a.m.

Mr Hollis, secretary of the Kailwnymen's Federation of Australia, interviewed, said the Victorian (!overnment was absolutely trying to force their railwaymen to strike. The. men had a number of well-founded grievances. The (Sovc-rnnient, after breaking faith with them was trying to crush them, and the men wore justified in their resistance. The final decision- rested with the Victorian societies, but if they struck they had the assurance of help*- from other States. There would be no lack oi money, and no men would go from other States. If it came to a strike it \\< v ouU! be the bitterest struj-gle ever known in Austrulia and a calamity to the whole Commonwealth, THAT OH THE SACK. MELBOURNE, April 29.

The Minister of Railways to-day emphasised his determination to enforce obedience to the Government's orders. It would be a fine thing, he said, to have the running of trains and the building of locomotives interfered with by a body like the Trades Hull. Fverylhing had been arranged to punish the men for disobedience, and the only alternative to severing their connection with the Trades Hall was " thfj sack."