SYDNEY STRIKE

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 24 February 1914, Page 3

SYDNEY STRIKE

SPREADING THROUGHOUT

MANY IDLE

! Sydney, Feb. 21. i The Grand Council of the Meat Industry has declared the skins of cattle and sheep killed by the master butchers to be 'black.' The result will be that three hundred tannery employees will be thrown idle. The engine drivers and firemen employed in the freezing chamber held a "stop" meeting and decided to cease work if such action were consid red necessary in the interests of unionism. The cold storage employees resolved that if an attempt were made to handle frozen meat for distribution they too would cease work. Mr Estell, Minister for Labor, claims that the men's acceptance of his proposals were tantamount to making an offer to the master butchers. The employers absolutely deny that they offered to compromise with the men on Thursday, and firmly adhere to their determination that if the men resume it must be at the old award rates. The Labor Council has decided to intervene in the dispute, owing to the fact that a number of affiliated] unions are affected or likely to be affected. The whole issue will be reviewed by the Food Production and Distribution Council, which includes, fourteen unions, including the bakers. It is understood that certain advice was given in regard to next week's bread supply. 'It is probable that ice carters will refuse to deliver ice to the meat-supplying depots, an additional three of which were opened to-day. The outlook is that the strike is likely to widely extend. The position in the iron trade is equally ominous, and already over two thousand men are out, Practically every firm of magniaffected. One of the most serious phases of the strike is that some four hundred men at' Hoskin's pipe •works at Ultimo, are out. This means that all work in extending the city and suburban water supply is hung up. It also stops the extensions required for the erection of new buildings. The men employe 1 at the Morts and Woolwich docks struck while ships were undergoing repairs. CABINET TO CONSIDER 1 POSITION Sydney, Feb. 22. Both sides are firm and are marking time. It. is possible that the Ministry will evolve some solution at to-morrow's meeting, but it is considered probable that definite action will be. deferred till the return oi Mr Holman from New Zealand on Tuesday. The position in the iron trades is practically unchanged. Nearly four thousand men are out, All the meat depots yesterday were bssieged. Long before the premises opened big crowds assembled and many persons waited for hours without securing supplies. There was considerable jostling at some depots and the police in charge had their work cut out to keep the crowds from rushing the shops.

The supply is far short of the demand. A large number of householders had meat sent from the country.