N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2657, 12 November 1909, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 13Y THE PREMIER.

United Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, Nor. 10.

'lf the views of.some mine-owners now an Sydney may he taken as indications of the opinions of others t-fiere will he no conference until the miners first agree to return to work, while circumstances .point to a struggle of magnitude unparalleled, in Australian history.

The Premier made an important announcement in the House to-day. The Government, he said, wore fully'seized with the gravity of the situation and fully alive to their obligations. There were two questions to be considered: First, whether any method could he devised whereby the parties might be enabled in the public interest primarily and their own secondarily to come to some arrangement to adjust their differences. There were now in existence and available for either party industrial tribunals. Outside the question of actual method or basis of agreement being offered, there was another question to whiuh they could not close their eyes, namely the enforcement of the Industrial and Disputes Act where a breach has been established against its decision. The desire of the • Government was not to do anything which would prevent an amicable settlement, but if the Government found the manifesto made it clear that there was a desire to spread trouble throughout the ■community and wage war upon the public, it could be depended upon that the Government would do its duty without shrinking.

THE STRIKE EXTENDING,

■SYDNEY, Nov. 11. The Mount Pleasant colliery is now idle.

Mr McGowan congratulated Mr "Wade on his decision to await the issue of the conference before making a move, but lie feared that reference to penalties might he taken as a threat. Mr Paterson, president of the Miners’ Federation, on the whole approves of the decision, as throwing the responsibility for subsequent events upon the proprietors. He.' declared the men would remain quiet, unless blacklegs were introduced. The registrar of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court is watching the strike carefully. If it extends beyond New .South 'Wale.s, he will bring it before the Court in the ipublic interest.

The Wligrf Laborers’ Union considered the request of the Federated Council of Waterside Workers to strike if called upon. Although the press representatives were excluded, it is understood that the meeting decided to strike if the call came. Other Waterside Unions are marking time, pending developments.

Up to £4- per ton was paid 3'esterday for bunker coal in Sydney. The miners at Curlewis pit. Gunnedah, have- struck. The position in the southern districts has not been improved by one of the Clifton colliery prosecution eases going against the men. The decision caused considerable excitement and angrv scenes. It was subsequently announced that the company had agreed to the dismissal of all the remaining charges, with 10s expenses to each man. The Mount Iveira miners decided to continue work until Frida3 T , but the wheelers declare tbe\’ will not today. , „ ~ The delegates from the Newcastle lodges are visiting the "Western districts. Though no move has yet been made, it is believed the W estern miners are prepared to join in the strike. In reference to the scheme of the Miners’ Federation to work a, mine, with the object of providing strike funds, it is now stated that the plans proposed taking over two collieries. MELBOURNE, Nov. 11.

The Steamship Owners’ Federation has decided, as a result of the dislocation of trade caused by the strike, to increase interstate freights by 2s 6d to 5s 6d per ton, aaid passenger rates by 10 per cent. The price of coal was increased by £1 per ton from to-day. LONDON, Nov. 10.

English newspapers are watching the Australian coal strike and its weatenod effects on industry and commerce.

A SYMPATHETIC STRIKE

(Received November 11, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 11.

The United Storemen’s Union has decided to strike on Tuesday in support of tho miners.

SOUTHERN MINE OWNERS DECLINE A CONFERENCE.

(Received November 12, 12.10 a.m.) The southern coal 'owners have declined to participate in a conference. They could not recognise, and decline! to meet in conference representatives of bodies of- employees with, whom they had no business connection, or bodies of employees employed in another district, with whom they had- never stood in the relation of employers to employees. Further, tho Association had always been ready to meet its own employees in conference, - but had consistently 'declined to deal with the matter in dispute so long as the men were outside the pale of the law by being on strike.

AN OPINION FROM WELLINGTON

[Per Pit kss Association.! * WELLINGTON, N0v..11. A shipmaster who lias an intimate acquaintance with maritime matters on the Australian coast. expressed the opinion to-day that tho strike at KYwc.ist.e need not have any serious effect on the steamers engaged m the intercolonial trade. For a considerab.e time, it lias

CABLE NEWS.

been the practice to go to Newcastle from Sydney to re-blinker, but it would bo just as easy and as cheap, said the gentleman referred to to run_ to Bulli on the New South Wales coastsouth of Sydney. There are, he said, large quantities of coal stored there, besides big deposits, while the Bulli eoaf miner is working under totally different conditions from those of his Newcastle brethren, and'is not .likely to strike in sympathy. The mail steamers and. Australian coastal passenger liners bunker at Bulli and the coal is of a superior quality. Newcastle, he said, is primarily a place or export, not necessarily of local supply.