N.S.W. GOAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2658, 13 November 1909, Page 5

N.S.W. GOAL STRIKE.

STRIKE ENDORSED BY SYDNEY LABOR COUNCIL.

Uniticd Pnicßa Association —CorYUicniT SYDNEY, Nov. 12.

In response to an invitation to participate in an open conference to redress existing grievances, the western colliery proprietors stated that no grievances existed. The Lithgow Miners’ Federation officials state that the request was not meant for a combined conference, but lor three separate conferences for the three mining districts. The northern colliery proprietors meet in Sydney to-day to discuss the situation. There is reason to believe that they will insist upon the resumption of work as a primary consideration to negotiations.

A meeting of the Sydney Labor Council endorsed the strike, and gave its approval of the extension of the movement if the proprietors decline to attend a conference.

A mass meeting of waterside workers has been called for Monday. The statement is made that if the proposed conference fails the waterside workers from Brisbane to Perth will strike on Tuesday. The Miners’ Delegate Board has issued a statement of the grievances upon which tho Newcastle strike was declared. It covers the whole of the troubles of the northern coal fields for several years.

Many points have been raised of au intricate character.

Mr. Bowling, miners’ secretary, referring to the Government’s proposed action, said that Mr. Wade’s speech contained a threat in almost every line. The Premier appeared to be using threatening languago as a bluff. It might frighten some people, but the miners were not to be frightened' in that way. If Mr. Wade took action, it would he somewhere else than in Newcastle, and it would not he one of the miners who would be the first arrested.

INCREASE IN STEAMSHIP FARES

The coastal steamship companies have followed the inter-State companies in raising freights and fares. Tho Union Company and Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. anticipate little difficulty in securing coal. The Union Company has a stock of 2(jo0 tons at Newcastle, which has been reserved for the passenger service. The stoppage of southern supplies is likely to seriously interfere with other companies. Fuel for domestic purposes is getting scarce, and the stoppage of work by a number of firms is inevitable unless an early settlement is arrived at. COMMONWEALTH CONTROL ADVOCATED. MELBOURNE, Nov. 12. Mr. Fisher, referring in the House to the strike, advocated vesting the powers of dealing with such matters in the Commonwealth, which would be better able to deal-therewith than the States. Mr. Deakin said he was opposed to the sweeping away of the authority exercised by the State tribunals. The Trades Hall Council carried a resolution supporting the strike. Several more steamers have been placed out of commission. Others will be laid up as they arrive. Over 300 shipping employees have already been rendered idle. The Railway Commissioners, in order to preserve the stock of coal, are reducing the train services wherever possible. FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. HOBART, Nov. 12. The steamer Karitane has been ordered to Sydney, where she will be laid UP- r Coal is scarce, and a Dig rise is ieared Some mines have closed. BRISBANE, Nov. 12. •At a meeting of waterside, workers it was resolved to cease work if called upon. WESTERN MINERS -JOIN THE STRIKE. SYDNEY', Nov. 12. The Zigzag miners have gone out. They are the first of the western miners to join in the strike. NORTHERN OWNERS AGREEABLE TO CONFERENCE CONDITIONALLY. SYDNEY, Nov. 12. (Received November 12, 8 p.m.) The Northern, coal owners have decided to reply to the miners’ request, agreeing to a conference if the men resume work within a week. If the conference is abortive they are agreeable to refer the question of the miners’ grievances to the Industrial Couit. A VIOLENT SPEECH. (Received Nov. 13, 12.35 a.m.) Mr. Bowling, in a speech at Newcastle, declared- that had the strike not been entered on at the present time, there would have been a disaster. The miners and some of the smaller colliery owners would have been ruined. The big companies, and an emissary, from England had, before tlib strike started, entered into a compact that would have placed the Minors Federation under the. heel of, the colliery owners, and given the whole power of the coal trade of the country into the hands of a few men. One great swndlie of the clique he referred to would have given them a profit of £IOO,OOO in one grab, hut the . clique was beaten, and liad-lost £IOOO. Re-

CABLE NEWS.

plies, Mr. Bowling said the men opthe district would not let women and children starve. Ho need not tell them how that could be done, nor could he do better than repeat the words of Cardinal Manning to tho London dockers: “If you are hungry,' take it.”' He hoped they would see that they got food for their wives and children. If the law stood for hunger and starvation, then the law was unjust. The miners were fighting the battle of the public, because they had entered on the strike so that there might be kept away from Australia what was one of America’s greatest curses, an octopus that referred to what- was technically known referred t owhat was technically known as r. “deal.”

UNION STEAMERS TO BE LAID

The Star of Scotland has sufficient bunker coal to carry her to New Zealand.

The Union Company have decided to lay up several steamers and curtail the Tasmanian service.