ENGINEERS' STRIKE.

West Coast Times, Issue 10473, 18 January 1897, Page 4

ENGINEERS' STRIKE.

[Per| United Press Association.]

Adelaide, Jan 16. The secretary of the local branch of the Engineers Association received information from head quarters that it had been decided that members could return to the Adelaide Coy's steamers. A meeting of local engineers differed from the decision.

Sydvey, Jan 16. The engineers, as a body, are little short of disgusted at the efforts to secure better terms, and express their feelings in no measured language. "Knowing what we know now," stated one of them, "and fhat an honorable understanding with the owners is impossible, we relied on their word, and made the inconvenience to the public as light as possible, and this is our reward. We ought to have paralysed the whole traffic, and then, perhaps, we would have been listened to with some effect. We have been out-generalled, and that is the whole fact." These sentiments are echoed by most of the engineers, who regard their defeat as a most crushing one. As in most cases of this kind the leaders come in for hard words. It is said that the power of the owners was under-rated, and the strength of the engineers over-rated, and that throughout the leaders showed a lamentable failure to grasp the true situation. This, together with a misunderstanding with the Wellington dranch, and the unscrupulous conduct of some of the Melbourne owners in bringing pressure to bear on their old servants, is given as the reason for the defeat. That pressure, the engineers hold, was more than these old servants could stand, and one man seen last night stated that the Melbourne committee said that it was absolutely necessary to close the strike before further defections took place.

The owners could not see any way of granting the additional requests which the Conference called for and the engineers abandoned their claims and the Conference closed. The men intend to work in future according to the rules but propose no hostile action.