Eérly yesterday morning, when the men reported for duty at the depots, a number refused to take out the ears, Ineiting the remainder to side With them. "OMmelals of the company' immediately went to Bubbling Well and Hart Roads to try and reach some agreement, but after a great deal of talk the men refused to go on duty, and lounged around the By this time the clerks employees decided to and all work was Drought to a standstill The strikers, who gave no reason for quitting work in the morning, presented a demand to the management In the afternoon, asking for increased rice allowances, After the previous strike, early last October, the men received increases amounting to 160 per cent, in wages, besides higher: allowances, At New Year the men were grant-+ed a 50 por cent. bonus, in accordance with the agreement reached in October, and appeared to be satis fled. It' is thought that the strike may have a political background, singe many of the men were quite willing to go' to work yesterday morning, but were intimidated by others, "who may have been me Auenetd from. outside, 'At about 1 o'clock' an assistant compradore, attached to the Hart Road depot, was attacked by a number of' the strikers, apparently nursing a private grudge, and was struck several times on the head, Four clerks who attempted to come to his assistance were also struck, sustaining slight injuries. All five were removed to the Red Cross Hospital, but it was found that the Injuries' were not serious, and they were not detained. When the riot ing broke of an units of the Reserve Unit turned out to quell the fighting. When the police arrived everything was quiet again, but os a precautionary mea. sure all the strikers were removed from the compounds of the depots, nnd barricades rected, blocking approaches,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.