SYDNEY TRAM STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2254, 28 July 1908, Page 3

SYDNEY TRAM STRIKE.

THE TRAMS STILL RUNNING. A CRITICAL POSITION'. United Piikss Association. Coi’yiuout VV SYDNEY. July 27. It is admitted on nil bands Hot tho position is very critical, and will need most careful handling. or a general strike will be precimtatcd. All sorts of rumors are current to-day of developments likely to prove momentous, and, further information is anxiously awaited. The Government’s intention to take action under the Industrial Disputes Act is assumed to mean either that they will agree to appointing a tribunal to consider the dispute or that they have decided on the arrest of tho strike loaders. The executive of the railway onginemen sat all dav yesterday.' At the conclusion of the meeting, tho secretary announced that they had , decided to stand by tho strikers,- and that whether immediate action is ta'ken depends upon the reply of tho Chief Commissioner to a request to be made to him this morning. Tho speeches made at the Domain demonstration wore of a rtodernto character. One speaker declared that the strikers now had the Labor Council, with SO,OOO unionists, behind them, and they would see -them tliro'US“. Another big demonstration ■was held at Newtown. It is reported that tho Parliamentary Labor party is opposed to tho strike throimhout. and unfavorable to its extension. . Ihe trams were running this moroincr and an improved service is promised during the day. The authorities profess to have no fen.r to he nT. e t( i ma bitain the power supply. They have also received numerous volunteer offers of help to run tho _trnnis. A small service is maintained Newcastle. No attempt lias been jnado to resume running at Brokon Hill. Tho Coal Lumpers Union has notified southern coal miners not- to resume working till 2 o’clock to-day, to enable, them to attend a mass meeting, which it is stated has been - called to deal with some internal trouble, but it is believed it also has a bearing on the tram trouble. The strikers are receiving many messages of support. The Miners’ Federation and Wharf Laborers’ Union adopted resolutions of sympathy, and promised support. > The Victorian Lalior party expressed sympathy.

STRIKERS TO BE PROSECUTED

FURTHER DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

United Press Association, Copyright , (Received July 27, 10.15 p.m/)

SYDNEY, July 27. A drenching rain has fallen without intennision throughout the day. Tho strikers congregated in large force at the Trades Hall, where the previous committees conferred. The strictest secrecy was preserved, the policy apparently being that of marking time and awaiting the result of tho deputation of Labor members to tho Premier. The deputation saw Mr. Wade in the forenoon, and he promised to give a reply later. Meantime, following upon a Cabinet meeting, applications were made to Judge Heyclon, President of the Industrial Disputes Court, on behalf of the Attorney-General, to prosecute Lawton (president) and Warton (secretary) .of the. Tramway Employees Union, on a charge of instigating a strike, and 26 members of the Union for striking. Tho applications were granted. Mr. Wade again saw the deputa/tion in the afternoon, and reiterated .the intention of tho Government to firmly uphold tho law, and definitely refused tho appointment of a tribunal outside of the Industrial Disputes Act to deal with the case. The strikers must seek re-ins-tatement, he said, and take advantage of the Act -to havo their grievances dealt with. If they returned to work within a reasonable time, tho proceedings ■for. a penalty in tho cases.initiated against them" would not bo proceeded yrrth.

AN IMPROVED SERVICE

HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS

FOR WORK

United Press Association. Copyright (Received July 27, 11.55 p.m.)

SYDNEY, July 27. Lawton states that the prosecutions ore expected to make no difference to the strikers. There are plenty more to fill the vacant places. They intend to fight to a finish. At a mass meeting of coal lumpers, it was decided to support the strikers morally and financially if called upon. At the Polico Court a number of men were charged with riotous bekavior arising out of the strike demonstrations. Fines of from LI to £3 were imposed on the strikers involved. On the wholo the trainmen are bohaving excellently. Tho authorities are ablo to provide an improved service to-day. The number of cars running was considerably increased, and were better patronised, rain compolling many to use the cars who previously, from sympathy with the strikers and other motives, had refrained. It is officially stated that hundreds of applications for work have been received, including some of the strikers.

THE RAILWAYMEN’S POSITION

DISINCLINATION TO COAIE OUT.

United Press Association. Copyright (Received July 28, 1.25 n.m.)

SYDNEY, July 28. Ac the Trades Hall, the Copncil tonight discussed the latest phase of the situation. The press were excluded, and none of the official reports indicate a weakening movement in the direction of a general strike. One cause for this is said to be the railway men’s disinclination to come out. It is rumored that further developments will depend upon the action the Labor members intend to take when Parliament meets to-morrow. It is considered significant that a deputation of railway men which was to have waited on the Commissioners to-day failed to do so.