RAILWAY STRIKE

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1557, 15 May 1903, Page 3

RAILWAY STRIKE

CABLEGRAMS.

[PER UNITED Pt'ESS ASSOCIATION] |BY KL.KCTRIC TKLEGRAI'U—COPYUUUIT

THE DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. DRASTIC LEGISLATION. SIR A. J. PEACOCK MOVES AN AMENDMENT. Melbourne, May 14. In the Assembly, after further debate, the motion to introduce the Premier's Striko Bill was carried by a large majority. Of speakers who supported the Government, some expressed the hope that a door would be left open to the men by which to return. Mr Maloney declared that Mr Shiols directed the operations of the Government, and that Mr Bent had done the dirty work. Mr Irvine introduced his Bill lato at night. The preamble sets out that it is necessary to invest the Government with further powers to suppress the present strike so as to restore to the public the full use of the railways. The chief provisions of the Bill are that every person employed on the railways, either in a permanent or supernuinary capacity, who has ceased to perform his duties without the aporoval of the Commissioner, after 14 days' clear DOlice, shall be deemed a striker, and be liable to a penalty not exceeding £IOO, or 12 months' imprisonment, or both, such penalties to apply to any offence against any provision of the Act. The Bill gives special powers to fill any place vacated by strikers, and makes offences the use of threats, violeuce, intimidation, insulting language to loyalists or families, lurking near or spying upon the houses where loyalists reside, or their places of work, following through the streets in a disorderly manner, soliciting or persuading not to remain in the service or carry out duties, attempting to interfere with lib. rty, tampering with railway property, or suggesting any act intended to or delay the running of trains, organising, holding, receiving, collecting or distributing any strike funds to encourage others to continue or extend the strike. For such offences the offender may be arrested without a warrant. Other clauses provide against the printing, publising, or posting of any notification encouraging a strike, make a meeting of more than six persons in favour of a strike unlawful, make obstruction to the police an offence, and provide for the protection of any witnesses in cases aiising out of a strike. The final clauso limits the duration ef the Act to the continuance of the strike. Mr Irvine, in moving the second reading, said that the Bill had a partially retrospective effect. The Government did not intend to ask Parliament to. validate anything they had done. Ministers took the whole responsibility for their acts. While Mr Irvine was explaining the more stringent provisions, he was interrupted by angry demonstrations from the Labour members, and cries 'Russia !' ' Shame !' • Hang them !' ' Shoot them !' With regard to the men who remained loyal, and those who came to the assistance of the Government, Mr Irvine said it was intended to give them seniority, but not to close the door to the strikers who signified that they were willing to return, but the door would be open for a very limited time. Mr Peacock moved an amendment, expressing regret that the men had gone on strike on the eve of the assembling of Parliament, but that if they would return forthwith the House would take into consideration any grievances from which they might think they were suffering. He urged the Government not to rush to an extreme in legislating for this striko. He advocated conciliation. The Premier said that the effect of the amendment was to ask the Government to surrender its responsibility. The matter had the effect of a motion of want of confidence. The Government must assert its responsible position. The debate was still proceeding at an early hour this morning. The Legislative Council sat only for a short time last night, and adjourned till this afternoon. They are awaiting the Strike Bill from the Lower House. JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE. Melbourne. May 14. The stoppage of the railways placed a formidable obstaclo in the way of circulating the metropolitan dailies. The Age succeeded in getting its papers to Ballarat on the morning succeeding the strike by despatching a special steamer to Geelong and sending the papers thence to Ballarat by motor-car. The paj. ;rs were eagerly purchased up to half-a-crown apiece. The Trades Hall Council have received a cable from the secretary ot the Federated Trades Union of London, wishing them every success. Brisbane. May 14. A largo public meeting passed a resolution of sympathy with the strikers. FURTHER ENGLISH COMMENTS London, May 13. The English newspapers again give much prominence to the railway strike, and almost without exception they condemn the strikers. The St. James' Gazette says that tho strike is full of mistrustful consideration for the friends of the colony. The Labour party's presumption is largely the result of being pampered and honoured for personal motives by persons who ought to know better. This evening's journal concludes : • The champions of undue corporate and municipal trading here are showing tho same disregard of inevitable consequences.' MEN OFERIJING TO RESUME WORK. ' SORRY THEY STRUCK.' DID SO THROUGH FEAR. Melbourne, May 13. As a result of negotiations between a committe of influential citizens and tho loaders ot tho local firemen and drivers, the whole of the Geelong strikers have agreed to resume work to-morrow. The decision was come to after receiving a departmental promise that if they resumed ut onco, their rights would be conserved.

CABLEGRAMS.

[PER UNITED TRESS A3SOCIATIO |BY ELECTRIC TELIfiRAPU COVYRIOHT)

Amongst the applications received yesterday, were 29 from certificated drivers, including nine who struck. It is also stated that steamer passages have been booked for fifty drivers from other states including New Zealand, and that fitters have offered to come to the assistance of the Railway Department. The Strike Committee flatly deny that the men are returning to duty. The President of the Drivers' Association to-day stated that such reports are nothing more nor les3 than a deliberate attempt to cause disunion amongst the men, The only effect of the reports, however, had been that, it was now impossible to get them to believe any rumours flying about. Possibly the Department may have induced some half-dozen country strikers to consider the seductive inducements held out. He declared the service to-day was no better than it had been. Tho men were just as determined as ever, and there was complete unity amoDgst them. Sydney, May 14. The Secretary of the Labour Council r'ceivd the following telegram to-day from strike headquarters:— The strike is continuing with unabated vigor. Newspaper reports of defections and satisfactory traffic are false. All through Victoria there have been only seven defections. In no dispute were the men ever so unanimous. Melbourne, May 14. The members of the Drivers' Association now on strike told an interviewer that a large proportion of the strikers were now sorry they took the extreme step. Some would never have gone out at all, but throughj fear of the others who wanted to strike they were coerced. If the Government had guaranteed adequate protection a large number would never have left their engines. Only the executive was keeping them together now. LATEST^ Melbourne, May 14. The Premier states it is not the intention of the Government to permit all strikers willing to do so to resume duty. The men who came to the assistance of the state, whereof 211 are now actually engaged, did so under a distinct promise of permanent employment. Their claims were paramount for positions which Btiited them. Moreover, it was not intended at the present time to bring the service up to anything like the full conditions prevailing before the strike. Those men who were active in organising the strike, took part iu intimidating, or were guilty of leaving their trains anywhere on the lues would receive no consideration. The Government has appointed a board, consisting of Messrs Sachse and Pitt, honorary members of the Cabinet, to inquire into the claims of strikers applying to resume work. May 15. From the utterances of tho men themselves it may pretty safely be said that there is practically no likelihood of the signalmen joining the strikers. Yesterday's mileage run was 3700 by passenger trains and 223 by goods trains. The running of country trains has to a great extent re-established the postal service. Eight executive officers of the Amalgamated Society removed from office have instituted proceedings against the Commissionar for wrongful dismissal. Tho damages are not yet fixed.