GAS STRIKE IN SYDNEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 55, 6 March 1913, Page 5

GAS STRIKE IN SYDNEY.

A RIOTOUS MEETING. HECKLING THE LORD MAYOR. (By Electric Telegrapn.— Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Sydney, March 5. The meeting called by the Lord Mayor at the Town Hall to give the citizens an opportunity of expiessing an opinion to the strike, was veiy largely attended. It proved lively and exciting, almost ending in a riot. The Lord Mayor attended, and on the platform were many prominent citizens and Sub-inspector Coulter, of the police force. Other police were scattered inside and outside the building. It was soon evident that the strikers and their supporters weio present in force, and that they intended to take a hand. The Lord Mayor’s appearance was the signal for a great demonstration, those in sympathy with the object of the meeting cheering heartily, while a strong section hooted lustily. After appealing for fair play and trying for some time to get a hearing, the Lord Mayor warned interrupters that unless they stopped their tactics they would bo removed. Amidst continual interruptions and counter demonstrations, tho workmen inarched to the platform, and presented the Lord Mayor with a large shovel with a request to take it to the gasworks and do some stoking.

The Lord Mayor, addressing the rowdy section, declared that they had a pretty poor cause if they could not hear tho other side. “All we are here to-day for,” he said, “is to say whether a few men, by an act of insubordination, can tie up the common services and leave our homes in darkness.” DEALING WITH DISTURBERS. At this point, the hostility was so demonstrative that the Lord Mayor ordered one of the disturbers to be ejected. A wild scene of disorder followed when a policeman attempted to carry out the order. The man’s comrades crowded round him, and a violent struggle ensued. /More police pushed through and were roughly hustled. They were compelled 'to draw their batons, and eventually several men were ejected. While the tussle was in progress in tho hall there was a commotion in the audience, which was greatly excited. Meantime strong police reinforcements arrived. vviien order was restored, the Lord Mayor, continuimg, said that ho was sorry for the disturbance, but it was not their fault. “In this movement,” he said, “we are backed up by the employees themselves, and the whole of the representative men of the city, f These men are going to support you in any wise movement taken to remove ex-

isting disabilities.” Attempts made to interrupt the speakers following the Lord Mayor were summarily suppressed by the police, and several more interjectors were removed. VOLUNTEERING. A resolution moved by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, and ' seconded by the president of the Employers’ Federation, expressing alarm at the action of the gas men in plunging the city and suburbs into darkness, stopping industries and causing deprivations to the sick and needy, and asking the Government to take steps to protect the citizens in any attempt to restore the daily life and industrial conditions to a normal state, was carried. A second resolution, moved by the president of the Chamber of Manufacturers, pledging “this great meeting of citizens, representing commerce and industry in all its various phases, to volunteer as a body to assist in restoring to the community its daily light and power,” was also carried. The Lord Mayor announced that he had received from the University intimation that sixty undergraduates were available' as volunteers, as well as other offers. Ho added: “We want gas prepared, and will work for it. We will not accept threepence, for the work, but will take the billets of the men and hold them till they come to their senses and return to work.” At the conclusion of the meeting large numbers enrolled their names as volunteers, to be distributed amongst the various companies. The North Shore Company hopes to continue its supply to-morrow, if not permanently. ASSAULTING THE POLICE. As a sequel to the Town Hall meeting, a man was fined £5 for assaulting Superintendent Gonlder. During the ejectment tussles, Superintendent Gonlder was knocked down, struck with a chair, and his uniform badly torn. The employees of the Manly Gas Company, to the number of about forty, have joined the strike. THE LORD MAYOR TURNS TO. From the Town Hall the Lord Mayor proceeded to Kent Street Gas Works. Discarding his frock coat and tall hat, and rigged in an old pair of pants and a sweater and did the four hours fireman’s shift like a workman. Other volunteers imitated him. The retorts are filling steadily, rod it is hoped that the city will have gas to-mor-row. “PEACE WITH HONOR.” (Received 9.45 a.m.) ' Over 400 volunteered at the Town i Hall meeting. The Lord Mayor’s shift included Colonel Lassetter and

a number of other prominent citizens. Tho Australian Gaslight Co. offer to reinstate ali tho strikers if they return to-day, and they declare they will light to the bitter end. The secretary of the Federated Engine-drivers denies the rumours that the electric light workers intend to join the strikers. The secretary of the gas workers; advocates calling Parliament together to deal with the situation since! companies cannot agree to cancelling the agreement but agree to the establishing of a. Wages Board. They cannot get near a settlement till the Act is amended. The men are willing to negotiate, hut it must be on the basis of peace with honour. The secretaries of the companies permit mediation, although there are rumours of a general strike. Officials in several of the larger unions oppose such action and consider it would be a blunder and would not help tho gas men. Some of tne unions passed a resolution in sympathy with the strikers and condemnatory of the Government for offering encouragement to free labourers.

Six litters in tho Mortlake works struck, refusing to repair damages caused by unskilled free labourers.It is claimed on behalf of the gas men that the trouble at the Town Hall meeting was not their making. Their conduct in the vicinity of the works where they continue largely to congregate is exemplary. When the undergraduate volunteers arrived in a body to commence work, the strikers greeted them with cheers.

The newspaper, The Worker, commenting on the situation: “The Ministry blundered badly. They gave the men half a day to accept the employers’ terms, and threatened to place amateur blacklegs in their

place and protect the professional article crying out ‘Wade! Wade!’ who; even in tire matter of the Newcastle strike, showed more forbearance. Evidently the Ministry had lost its head. Labour’s cup of bitterness was full, even to overflowing.”