AUSTRALIAN STRIKES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10736, 7 April 1913, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN STRIKES.

GOODS DAMAGED BY WEATHER., THE STRIKE EXTENDING. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, April 6. An easterly gale is blowing, accompanied by soaking rain, which has fat.en for twenty-tour hours and continues. Serious damage to goods left uncovered owing to the railway strike is likely. The shunters at the Eveleigh, Alexandria and Clyde yards have joined the strike. The guards of goods trains threaten to come out unless nine who were suspended for refusing to do shunters' work are reinstated. It is rumoured that parceL' office employees will be out to-morrow.

MEETING OF THE MEN.

SITUATION DISCUSSED BY EMPLOYERS FEDERATION. GOOD BEHAVIOUR OF THE \ STRIKERS. The railway strike has undergone little change. A meeting of the men last evening discussed the new offer by the Government to appoint a Royai Commission to leport on the whole situation. If the offer should be accepted the work of the Commission will be hurried, so that a settlement may be reached at the earliest possible moment. A mass meeting has been called fur to-morrow to further discuss iho matter. A meeting cf the executive of the Employers' Federation discussed the position as affecting trade. It was resolved, in view of the loss eaused to traders and inconvenience to the public through the dislocation of the canning branch of the railways, to call a general meeting of the Federation tomorrow; to urge on the Government the necessity or immediately restoring the service. A feature of this and recent strikes is tho orderliness and good behaviour of the men. Though special police have been detailed in strike areas their duties are purely nominal. THE BARRIER STRIKE. MINES CLOSED. SYDNEY, April 5. The "Barrier strike is beginning to be seriously felt, and fodder is running short. Two sections of the Amalgamated Zinc Works have closed, the British Mine has ceased breaking and hauling ore, and the Junction Mine was closed to-day, due to the shortage of trucks to carry ore. _ The Government is considering what action should be taken in connection with picketing in the Barrier strike. Tho Minister of Justice stated that the Government would do its duty to pr«« trot citizens.