GENERAL STRIKE AT BRISBANE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13328, 31 January 1912, Page 4

GENERAL STRIKE AT BRISBANE.

FOURTEEN THOUSAND MEN OUT

(Received Jan. 31, 1.15 a.m.) Brisbane, Jan. 30

The general strike started at six o'clock to-night. Negotiations proceeded throughout the day, and the Minister of Works had frequent interviews with the officials of the Tramway Company and the Australian Labour Federation. Up to the last moment there were faint hopes of settlement, but they were eventually dashed.

When tho call came the whole of tlie unions represented at Sunday's conference responded. The railway men and others necessary for carrying on tho- public institutions remain in, but all the others are out. It is estimated that altogether over 14,000 men obeyed the call. The city is simmering with suppressed excitement. Thousands of strikers are parading the streets, which strong detachments-of mounted and foot police are patrolling. Everything is quiet. Amongst the strikers are all t!io compositors, of tho "Daily Mail" newspaper and over a hundred from the Government Printing Office. Tho wharf labourers desertedvthe ships as they stood. A number are held up partially loaded or unloaded. Tlie Carrying Company, anticipating a

continuation of the trouble, lias suspended operations and sent its horses to grass.

All day long the stores wore rushed by customers laying in stores. There is a tremendous demand for all classes of goods.