AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XX, 16 May 1903, Page 1358

AUSTRALIA.

The Bank "of Adelaide has declared a dividend of 8 per cent., and canned forward £20,000 as reserve. Messrs. Huddart Parker’s s.s. Victoria has been chartered to convey the Cardinal and party to the South Seas at the end of July. The warship Phoebe has sailed for Norfolk Island, taking the assistant administrator, who will make arrangements for the approaching visit of the Governor. The Mount Lyell returns from April 2 to 29, inclusive, are 22,021 tons of ore, together with 3520 tons of metal-bearing fluxes, producing 450 tons of blister copper, containing—copper, 444 tons; silver, 46,843 ounces; and gold, 1661 ounces. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, in presiding over the Drought Relief Committee, read a letter from Mr Seddon covering a donation of £lOO from Mr Hugh Campbell, and says: “I need hardly state that the sufferers have the sincere sympathy of myself and my colleagues. Had the several State Governments seen the way some months ago to accept our proffered aid, I feel sure material assistance would have ensued. It was intended only as a neighbourly action, and in the accepting of the offer no loss of prestige would have resulted to Australia. VANCOUVER SERVICE. Sir Edmund Barton states that the contract is practically concluded with the Union Company, extending the Vancouver service for two years at a slightly increased subsidy. The Federal Premier stipulates that one of the steamers should be brought up to the efficiency of the other two. RAILWAY STRIKE IN VICTORIA. TRAFFIC DISORGANISED. The long-pending dispute between the State Government of Victoria and the railway employees reached a climax on Saturday, when the men went out on strike. The following cablegrams give particulars of the main incidents of the great struggle: — MELBOURNE, May 9. Early to-day it was found impossible to carry out even the partial time-table arranged yesterday, owing to there not being enough drivers and firemen. A number of those who were expected failed to turn up. Large crowds gathered at the Spencerstreet and other stations to watch the despatch of trains, including many of the strikers, who used efforts to induce those who had taken their places to join them. Beyond this and a little hooting, proceedings were quiet and orderly. It was close upon eight o’clock before the first suburban train was got away, and very few were despatched up to noon.

The country service was cancelled, and the sale of tickets stopped early in the morning. The usual mail train to Sydney wis among those stopped.

The scene in the city this morning was an extraordinary one. The travelling publie, early realising that the temporary service was a failure, rushed the trams and ’buses, which put forth all their available resources, while all de-

seriptions of vehicles were eagerly pressed into the service. Bicyclists turned out in great force, but many thousands perforce had to be content with walking.

From Princes-street station the only service to Camberwell was attemp' ?d, and even that was too great a strain. Three trains were sent out early in tha morning. The first went through ail right, the second had not moved 10 yards when it broke down, and only one had returned up to ten o’clock. A simflar state of affairs prevailed in Flindersstreet. Altogether up to ten o’clock only six suburban trains were despatched. Just as one was starting an accident happened to the gauge. The volunteer driver and fireman jumped off, and luckily nothing serious resulted, but they were relieved of further duty. The Westinghouse brakes not being used, the majority of the trains are considered unsafe with volunteer drivers.

One of the early trains was just ready to start from Spencer-street, but when the guard blew the whistle the driver took up his coat and stepped off the footboard.

Two accidents have been reported so far. A train being taken out by a retired driver for Port Melbourne ran off the line owing, it is alleged, to the signals not operating properly. The traffic was blocked all the morning.

The second accident was more serious. A goods train from Benalla to Melbourne was derailed at Avenel. Several trucks and engines are lying across the track. There is great damage to the rolling stock and permanent way, and it has been found impossible to clear the line. Crowds of strikers and sympathisers gathered at all the stations. The express from Sydney arrived an hour late, It is alleged that the delay was caused owing to the rails on a steep gradient being greased. All along the country lines live stock are being taken out and goods left untouched.

Excepting in the city and suburbs, the mails are undelivered, and there is a great bloek at the general post office. In consequence of this the telegraphic offices will be specially opened at certain hours to-morrow (Sunday), for the convenience of the public. The secretary of the Engine-drivers’ Association is greatly elated at the breakdown of the service.

With one or two exceptions the whole of the members of the association obeyed the call out.

The Government, though faced with the fact that their promised service has broken down, state that in a few days they will easily be able to get enough men to carry out their promises to give a fairly effective service. Mr Bent declares that he is confident that the Government must and shall win. The sorriest men in the country will presently be the drivers and firemen. ,

The excitement Is at fever heat in the eity.

There are police forces at the Melbourne stations and policemen also accompany each train, but so far there haa been not the least call on their services.

It is rumoured that there is a possibility of the shunters and enginemen striking. It is reported that the fitters have struck, but the news lacks confirmation. MELBOURNE, May 10. Domestic provisions have advanced 25 per cent. The Government freezing works have closed down, owing to the railway strike, throwing over 100 men idle. The strike has completely dislocated trade throughout the State. One of its most serious phases is the paralysis of traffic to the inland centres. The possibility of a strike was considered so remote that a majority of the country tradespeople were caught napping. When it was seen to be inevitable orders were sent to Melbourne in shoals, but came too late. At present there is no prospect of a country train service, and the outlook if the strike is protracted is serious.

The signalmen are waiting developments. It is understood if they consider the Government’s action merits such a step, or, if called on, they are prepared to strike.

The tramway employees are not associated, and their terms of employment guard against striking. The sub-committee of Cabinet appointed to deal with the strike holds continuous sittings, and the men’s executive is in constant session. The Government

is firm and confident that they will eventually win. The men are jubilant of their success, and equally firm and confident. The fishing industry will suffer severely. About 500 fishermen have been virtually thrown idle, owing to there being no trains to carry the fish. SYDNEY, May 10. The first levy of the New South Wales railwaymen in support of the strikers, on the basis of one day’s pay per fortnight, resulted in £750, and will be continued until the trouble is ended. A meeting of the New South Wales branch of the Railwaymen’s Federation to-day discussed the situation. Satisfaction was expressed at the success of the strikers’ efforts, and willingness to increase the levy if required. The tramway employees are also supporting the strikers, excepting as regards blocking the inter-State mails. The strike so far has had little effect in New South Wales. MELBOURNE, May 11. The victims of the North Melbourne scrimmage were the driver and firemen of the Karumburra train, who were hooted and hustled by a crowd of strikers, who tried tc coerce them to leave work.

The driver refused, and was knocked down and roughly handled. He made his way through a crowd of sympathisers. The efforts were more successful with the fireman, who joined the strikers. Two arrests have been made.

A few other isolated instances are reported where violent coercion or threats were employed, chiefly from the strikers. Sympathisers with the men are preventing them from going to work. Passengers by the express to Adelaide, amongst whom was the Hon. C- G. Kingston, had an unpleasant experience, having been left stranded across the points at Stawell. Inspector Leslie as driver, and his clerk as fireman, took charge of the breakdown, but a long delay occurr ed. At Glenorchy another engine was procured, but not sufficiently powerful, the greased lines on the gradients also impeding the progress. They arrived eventually eleven hours late. The strikers anticipate that tha levy on the railway men of other States alone would yield £2OOO weekly. Speaking at the Mayor’s Banquet, the Premier said that come what might, the community must never allow the control of its property to pass into the hand of any section of the community whatever. They must never hand down to their children the heritage of surrender and misgovernment. The secretary of the Engine-drivers’ and Firemen’s Association states that out of between 1300 and 1400 members not more than 15 remain in the service.

No trains were run yesterday. The State has received numerous offers of assistance, and intends to run the Melbourne to Sydney express to-day at any cost. Several attempts to block trains are reported from near Moonee Ponds, a suburb of Melbourne, where a heavy rail was placed across the line. It is alleged that the cause of an engine leaving the rails at Port Melbourne was interference with the points. The derailment of an engine at Seymour was due to a similar cause.

Th’e goods sheds at Spencer-street are strongly guarded by the police. Already the shipping is beginnig to feel the effects, and there is a rush for berthing accommodation. More vessels will be put on. Delay is being caused in handling cargo owing to the want of railway facilities. The real pinch of the position will not be felt for a few days. Large firms are taking steps to reduce the number of their hands as a result of the slackness of business expected before the end of the week. Several thousand employees will thus be thrown idle. The “Argus” says that the strikers have underestimated the steady, determined and unflinching front of the community, which will oppose any attempted dictation of a small minority. The autocratic Governments of Europe have a short way through these cases. The strength of a Democratic Government in such an emergency has now to be tested.

All the leading inter-State newspapers publish leaders, condemnatory of the men’s actions. They consider that the latter were badly advised, and that the blunder must end in a lasting defeat.