LABOR ITEMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3167, 30 December 1893, Page 3

LABOR ITEMS

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Sydney, December 29. The outcome of the dispute with regard to the hewing rate is that the miners in the Woonona mine have ceased work, and their example will be followed to-morrow by the men in the South Bulli and Mount Kembla mines. The non-associated collieries anticipate larger trade o ving to the mines being idle, and the increase in their output is expected to absorb a considerable number of the strikers. At Newcastle the proprietors of the Greta colliery j have informed the men that unless j they accept a rate of 2s 6d per ton the mine will be closed. As the result of a conference held to day the proprietors of the Wallsend, Lambton, Burwood, Stockton, Helton, Wickham, and Bullock Island mines, and the Newcastle Coal Company decided to follow the example of the Australian Agricultural Company, which a few days ago agreed not to reduce the hewing rate beyond 3s 2d. The following associated collieries will close until the times improve, viz:— Co-operative, Brown's collieries, Mertbyr, Duckenfield, Dudley, Greta, and West Wallsend. Brisbane, December 30 The Mount Morgan Company has applied for six months' exemption from labor conditions for the whole of the Company's property outside the freehold, on the ground of the present unprofitable nature of the workings. The granting of the application will enable the Company to dispense with the labor of nearly two hundred men.