INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 37, 8 February 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

BUSINESS LARGELY RESUMED IN BRISBANE.

FAIRLY EFFICIENT) TRANSPORT

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.)

Brisbane, February 7

All is quiet, and fairly efficient tram and train services are running.

Business has largely been resumed. Many big houses report that a large percentage of employees have returned to work, particularly women and girls. Lord Denham, Governor-General, claims that three-quarters of the workers arc back. Coyne disputes this, and declares that those who resumed are not unionists, and points to the fact that warehouses, where men are employed, wharf hands, carters, barbers, theatres and other trades are still idle.

Detachments of special police continue to arrive, and the Government consider they are in a position to cope with any possible developments. The strike leaders are confident of a peaceful victory. It is reported that the union'executive, as well as the Premier, asked that military be sent, but the request was refused.

The Railway Commissioner states that only 3 per cent, of the traffic men are out. Of 370 who struck in the city 100 have resumed, whilst some of the others have asked to be taken back. Their request was declined, and their places will bo filled.

The Government have decided to allow hotels to open from noon till throe to-morrow, by way of experiment.

The tram services to-day extended to the outer suburbs.

As the result of several complaints from the mounted police that their mounts were stabbed with 'hatpins, an order has been 'issued barring the use of hatpins in crowded streets. The services of some of the special constables have been utilised on the wharves in unloading timber and other duties. The wharf labourers strongly resent this. A meeting decided to Take steps to prevent the specials from black-legging, pacifically or otherwise.' V-

Coyne, addressing a mass meeting of strikers in the Trades Hall, said they must not think that a compulsory conference would remedy all ills, ft would probably prove abortive. Filings would be “as you were.” Referring to the threat of the employers not to re-engage strikers, Coyne declared that the Strike Committee had decided that no man or woman shall retrun until ’justice was ensured to all. The trouble would not bo settled till every member guaranteed reinstatement for every employee. ’ < The United Labourers’ Society has asked the Melbourne Trades Hall to boycott the test match if MacLaren plays, because he acted a special constable in Brisbane.

Reports from ’ the country indicate that the strike is steadily spreading. At most of the railway extension works The men downed their tools.

Following the example;of Brisbane, hotels in the various strike centres have been closed. ,

It is reported that unionists in nearly all branches of trade are applying to bo reinstated, and are willing to return unreservedly.

The Premier announced that in all towns likely to be affected by jthe strike necessary steps would be taken for the protection of the people. Reports from Rockhampton and Townsville state that there have been brushes between the police and the strikers. ’ !

There was stone-throwing and window breaking at Rockhampton. Two were injured. The police restored order. There are no details. THE COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. Melbourne, February 7. At a meeting of tramway men held ;o air their own grievances against the company and to consider the position in Brisbane, the proceedings were lively. A strong section favoured an immediate strike. The arguments of the leaders were to the effect that they would serve the cause better by continuing to work and provide funds for the Brisbane men. Eventually these arguments prevailed, and resolutions were carried in favour of waiting the results of the compulsory conference ordered by the Federal Arbitration Court before coming to a decision in regard to the strike. Meantime all members will pay a strike levy of half a crown a week. The reported intention of the Brisbane Company to delay the proceedings of the Arbitration Court by raising objections to a compulsory conference, led to a third resolution, empowering the taking of a ballot in favour of drastic action to ensure the hearing of the case during the present month, and in the event of the objection proving successful or new objections being raised a strike will bo called.

The first definite step for holding a compulsory conference wore taken by the Industrial Registrar issuing summonses to the managers of the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Companies and the presidents and secretaries of the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Employees’ Associations to attend a conference. STEAMER UNPROCURABLE. Sydney, February 7. Howard, Smith and Co. have withdrawn the steamer Cooma from the Queensland trade.

The executive of the Labour Council have failed in their endeavours to secure a vessel to convey food to the Brisbane strikers. They report that

the failure is duo to the pressure ex the shipping ring.

WORK BEING RESUMED.

(Received 8, 9.20 a.m.) Brisbane, February 8,

It is stated on good authority that the Governor has communicated with the Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to Mr Fisher’s refusal to allow military to assist in maintaining order during the strike. The nature of the message is not disclosed. A meeting of the Employers’ Federation decided to challenge the •strike committee to take a ballot on the question of returning to work and also to tell employers in no circumstances to throw out loyal workers to make room for strikers.

All retail establishments have practically full staffs, some firms refusing to take back strikers. A notable example is the Government 'Printing Office, where no strikers will be taken back. Many of the latter have fifteen years’ service. By their action they forfeit the, right to extended leave, a gratuity of six months’ pay to widows in case of ‘death and other privileges.

On the tramways there are dess than a hundred vacancies now available. Strikers who are taken on have to start at the bottom of the list, no matter the length of their previous service.

The Portmaster announces that the pilot service has been restored.

The whole of the strikers at the Ipswich workships have decided to return to work.

LABOUR LEADERS INDICTED: Indianapolis, February 7, A staggering blow has been dealt labour throughout America by the grand jury investigating the dynamiting conspiracy having indicted thirty officials and agents of labour unions, holding them criminally responsible for the Outrages, wherein they participated with the McNamaras. ’ MINERS’ MINIMUM WAGE. London, February 7. The South Wales Miners’ counso) Iras accepted the National Federation* $ proposal for a minimum wage basis. While deploring the Federation’s action in reducing the amount, it resolved that the final agreement mpst bo submitted to a ballot. ’ •• . ;■< .AL WELLINGTON TRAAIWAY STRIKE. Wellington, February -7’. The chairman of the , : committee connected with the ' late ftramyrny strike informed a Post, representative to-day that if legal instituted against the :tram’vyjvy there is a possibility that ■the /traihw&y service will be suspended for : sojn'e days to enable the men to be caljdtj as witnesses. - • > 'V- - 1

The secretary of the Labor} r Dppartment, in reply, stated that: in-the event; of any 7 notion being thep) should be no necessity for all the men being present when the case was heard, providing they appointed someone to represent them. Even if it was 'necessary for all the men to be present, the proceedings, if taken, could be arranged for such a time that no inconvenience would be caused.