Debate on forming a Arbitration Committee.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane August 18, 1894

THE STRIKE DEBATE.

The debate in Parliament on the present bush strike, which has been looked forward to with considerable interest, not only by those immediately interested, but by all connected with the Labour movement, was opened on Wednesday last by Mr. Thomas Glassey, as leader of the Labour Party. Some of the speeches delivered on both sides we would like to reproduce in full, but space will not permit. When the assembly had disposed of formal business Mr. Glassey moved his motion in favour of an arbitration committee. In speaking to this resolution Mr. Glassey reviewed at length the causes which had brought about the present strike in the pastoral industry, and quoted correspondence to show that months before the trouble commenced efforts which had been treated in an unfair manner by the Pastoralist's Association. Years ago, before the financial institutions commenced to control pastoral pursuits, the employers and the employes had been able to meet and settle their differences in an amicable and friendly way.

Since the interference of the banks this unfortunately was not the case. As to the insinuation about the wire pulling from Brisbane, and the statements that if the men were left to themselves no trouble would arise, these he flately contradicted, and pointed out on the other hand that the officials of the A.L.F. and the Labour members had not influenced the men in the least in the present dispute. The Labour Party and the union officials were accused of being connected with the outrages that were taking place, an accusation which he stoutly denied. Union leaders could not always present the more violent men in times of industrial trouble from committing acts of violence. Industrial disputes in all parts of the world, so far as he was aware were not absolutely free from violence. He appealed to the House to accept the resolution, and promised for the men that if such a conciliation committee as he proposed was agreed to there need be no fear but what the award of the committee would be loyally adhered to. During his remarks he denounced the arrest of James Martin on a charge of being a “person of evil fame” as a childish and vindictive proceeding.