Strike-Picket Fatally Shot

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 1

Strike-Picket Fatally Shot

British Workers Revengeful

Trouble in Queensland Sugar Industry

A MAN on picket duty connected with the strike of the British cane-cutters at South Johnstone, Queensland, has been fatally shot, evidently by a foreigner. The object of the strike was to wrest from foreigners the position the> have secured in the sugar industry. Noisy demonstrations

have followed the shooting. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 10.11 a.m. BRISBANE. To-day. JOHN HYNES, a cane-cutter who , went on strike when the dispute at the South Johnstone sugar mill in volved the cane-eutters, was fatally shot while engaged in picket duty with four other men at VVangan. About mid-day, between Innisfail and South Johnstone, a man was seen by the picket on a side road. When challenged, he fired some shots and ran into the bush. Hynes followed A cablegram dated May L*k read: R-acia trouble which had been developing foi some time in the South Johnstone canegrowing district culminated in a strike of the British workers at the South Johnstone sugar mill' The men demanded that those who were employed last seasoi should be given prior right to employment this season. The men say they arc determined to enforce their demands. The strike, which has caused the suspensior

it Ihim and further shots were fired. Hynes was found by his mates fatally wounded. His assailant, d who was evidently a foreigner, e escaped in the darkness. l- As a result of the incident, feeling y is running high at Innisfail. y Several noisy demonstrations by I the strikers occurred, and some stoneil | throwing was indulged in. n i Two strangers seeking work were it saved by the police and the strike of--3 j ficials from manhandling by the 3 I crowd. —A. and N.Z. al of all cane-rutting operations in the area >r mill, appear.® to bq part •- of a move to wrest from the foreigners e the position they have secured in the h sugar industry, both in the mill and in d the cane fields. Train traffic is held up. n as the strikers are refusing to allow the - drivers and firemen, who carry on the e passenger and goods services lor the mills, ie to man the trains. The strike is expected n to extend further.