Judge Gives Directions.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 274, 20 December 1929, Page 7

Judge Gives Directions.

United Press Assn

Arbitration Court Orders Work To Start.

Kloctrijf Gable Guuvriifn'

SYDNEY, Dec. 19. The chief developihcnt to-day in the coal dispute was tlie action of Judge Beeby in tlie Federal Arbitration Court in ordering an inimediate resumption of work at all idle mines under prestoppage conditions and rates of pay. Legal argument occupied severai liours. CounstJ for the Commonwealth Government and the Aliners' Federation produced affidavits setting forth that a grave industrial dispute exists 'in New South YVales aud Yietoria as a result of the "miners being locked out since March 2 last." Mr Shand, K.C., counsel for the coal owners, contended 'that the court had no jurisdiction to intervene. while an officer of the Stgte Justice Department suhmitted _ that the State Government, . not being a party to any miners' award, could not now' be joined as a respondent in any Arbitration Court proeeedings. Judge Beeby interjected : To be quite candid, j am aeting under extraordinary powe'rs. I have formed the opinion that the only way to save tlie Commonwealth from a very disastrous upheaval is to restore the status quo as in March last, He then ordered the resumption of work as from 10 a.m. to-morrow.