AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 17756, 6 September 1917, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

NEWS FROM LATEST FILES.

100,000 TONS OF SHIPPING IDLE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 5. From a West Australian paf>er of August 19th, the following particulars of the strike are obtained;— The northern railway strike in Queensland continues, and as a result of the shortage of supplies a number of mines had to close down. The Seamen’s strike, followed by the general strike of the Melbourne wharf labourers, directly involving about 3500 men, completely paralysed shipping on the coasts. In Melbourne alone 35 vessels are hung up, and altogether in Commonwealth ports the gross tonnage of the shipping rendered inactive is computed at over 100,000 tons. Coal lumpers in Sydney, dock workers, and members of other unions are now also idle. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS’ ULTIMATUM. PLENTY OF VOLUNTEER LABOUR. COLLIERIES TO BE WORKED. ARREST OF UNION SECRETARIES. SYDNEY, August 18. The Railway Commissioners gave directions in connection with the re-employment of men who have been on strike, to the following effect: ‘‘Those men who have in the past given good service, and who reenter the service, shall be employed at the minimum rates of pay of their grades for a length of time equal to the length of time they remained off duty on strike, and will after the lapse of that tune, if suitable vacancies exist, be restored to the grade and rates of pay they enjoyed prior to the day of the strike. The same conditions will apply to those men who have in ' the past enjoyed merit payment over and above the flat rates awarded by the Wages Boards. In those grades in which flat rates of pay are ruling all men reemployed will be paid such rates as have already been fixed, and have applied under the Wages Board awards.” Members of office staffs of shipping companies who have been taking the places of wharf labourers since the strike commenced are to be withdrawn from the wharves at the conclusion of to-day’s work. From the time the clerks started they did good work, and the companies would have been willing to carry on with them had not the Government taken over the problem of providing labour to work the ships. The Government states that it has more volunteers than it can place, and most of the volunteers are suitable for work on the wharves. The shipping companies have been asked to discontinue the employment of clerks there so that men from the country can be used there on Monday morning (20th), Therefore the whole water front will be worked by the Government volunteer army. This will enable the clerks to return to their offices. Over 900 members of the Trolley and Draymen’s Union attended a meeting last night (17th). “It was decided,” said the Union secretary, Mr Woodbridge, “not to cart to the, harbour or railway stations, or to handle foodstuffs previously handled by non-union labour.” There are over 6000 members of the Union, and the decision of the Union means that unless voluntary labour is available the foodstuffs usually handled by dairy produce houses in Sussex street will be held up. Representatives of the Sussex street houses stated this morning (18th) that they regarded it as their first duty to see that the usual distribution of foodstuffs was carried out, and therefore all reasonable steps would be taken to ensure that the public will not be starved, as far as the commodities they handled are concerned. It is 'felt' in the trade that if the distributing houses had decided to close their stores there would have been an outcry from the public. “I should like,” said Mr Fuller to-day, “to deal with Mr Kavanagh’s last bulletin issued on behalf of the Strike Promotion Committee. In spite of Mr Kavanagh’s assurance to the contrary, we know that he and his confreres have been desperately trying to spread the strike in certain directions, and have failed. The decision announced to withdraw all hands from the collieries, including enginedrivers, is the last desperate resort of men who have now become utterly reckless as to their responsibility as citizens. The Government does not desire in any way to interfere with the proper working of the coal mines. It allowed coalminers until Thursday next (23rd) to consider their position. If they will get coal for the community the new Act passed will not be used, but if they still refuse the Government is determined to get the coal. After very careful enquiry and expert advice, we are satisfied that some collieries can be worked without danger, and men will be put into these collieries only. But coal will be got in spite of the Strike Committee. I think we have about reached the limit now of these insolent challenges, which are still being made to the community. Mr Kavanagh insinuates that we are trying to force a general strike, because a few slaughtermen, after acting in a most erratic and uncertain way for the last week, were told that their services were not required for the time being. The Government had no alternative but to co-operate with the scheme proposed by the carcase butchers and others to keep up the regular supply of meat for the community. We cannot allow this important matter to be determined by the vagaries of the Slaughtermen’s Union. The Government is straining every nerve to prevent the trouble spreading further, but at the same time is preparing to meet new contingencies as they arise.” Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Messrs E. J. Kavanagh, M.L.S., Secretary of the Labour Council; Mr Willis, Secretary of the Australian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation, and Mr Claude Thompson, Secretary of the Amalgamated Railway and Tramway Service Association, on charges of conspiring to incite a strike and being concerned in a conspiracy to incite members of the public service to refuse to fulfil their duty. EAST AND WEST RAILWAY. 350 MEN CEASE WORK. MELBOURNE, August 18. The Federal Minister for Works and Railways (Mr Watt) said to-day that he had received a telegram from the Supervising Engineer on the eastern section of the east and west railway, stating that 350 men had left the railhead in South Australia, and had arrived at Port Augusta this morning. “These men,” said Mr Watt, “having struck, are now dismissed from the service, and they will not be reemployed by the Commonwealth.” The Minister does not expect to hear for about ten days or a fortnight whether the Supervising Engineer has been successful in replacing the strikers at the railhead. If men cannot be secured to take their places Mr Watt intends to close down the line.