N. S. W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 5

N. S. W. COAL STRIKE.

CABLE NEWS.

TRAIN SERVICES CURTAILED

• i * * ■. i j United Press Association —Copyright. • SYDNEY, Nov. 29.

About four hundred tramway men have been given holiday leave. All special trains and trams have been cancelled, and all cheap- excursion faies have been cut out. . •

Through the medium of Dr Nash, a member of the Legislative Council, the Northern colliery proprietors meet Mi Bowling to-day. The mediator is also trying to briiig the Southern proonetors’and men together. The Parliamentary Labor party holds a caucus to-morrow to consider the gen era! position. Arrangemcrus have been made for the Ebbw Main mine to commence working to-day- under the Bowling scheme. A cable has been received from the English Miners’ Federation in answer to the appeal of the Strike Congress for funds, stating that the appeal will be considered at the next meeting. MANY STEAMERS LAID UP. The tram and train services were today reduced by about one-third. Eight of the North Coast Company’s steamers have been laid up.. The “Herald”' is responsible for the statement that the Strike Congress on Friday took a vote on the question of calling a general strike, and the vote was lost. The tram services were curtailed today, with the result that, the old-time ’buses are plying for hire in the streets. A largo number Of shop assistants will be idle to-morrow owing to the restrictions on business. TOWN PLUNGED- IN DARKNESS. The gas supply has given out at Wellington, and the town is in darkness. MELBOURNE, Nov. 29. The steamer Falls of Nith, which has arrived from New York, has sufficient coal to carry hex to New Zealand. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT REFUSE TO HAUL COAL FROM THE MINERS’ MINE.' (Received November 29, 10.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 29. The Ebbw Main colliery commenced working to-day. When requested to haul coal, the Railway Department declined. Other shipping agents’ requests were similarly treated. Negotiations with the Chief Commisisoner, on tho matter are. proceeding. Tho Colonial Sugar Company’s steamer Fiona, with a cargo of 6000 tons of coal, recalled from Fiji, returned to Sydney to-day. The .coal will' be used in the company’s works at Pyrmont.

MEDIATION BY THE MAYOR OF

NEWCASTLE

The Mayor of Newcastle communicated with the chairman of the Northern proprietors and Mr. Hughes, urging them to confer with the view of a settlement, suggesting, as a possible basis of agreement, and in view of the dire - distress and the proximity of Christmas, that the men resume work upon certain concessions pending a finding, mutually approved, by .the Court'of Arbitration. The Mayor .expresses the belief that the miners, as a whole, are anxious for 3 peaceful settlement and suggests that certain concessions having been made to til© miners, they pledge themselves to work for a definite period without a strike. (Received November 29, 11.55 p.m:) The Strike Congress considered the Mayor of Newcastle’s suggestion, and empowered Mr. Hughes to confer with Mr. Learmouth, chairman e:f the Northern proprietors. Judging by to-day’s developments, the effects of Dr. Nash’s mediation is probably over-estimated. Dr. Nash states that he conferred with Mr. Bowling several times, and hoped something would be arranged to bring the lamentable condition of aaffirs to a termination, but he knew nothing o*. Mr. Bowling meeting the proprietors to-day. The Strike Congress 'and Mr. Learmouth also profess no knowledge. Mr. Bowling saw one leading proprietor of Newcastle to-day, and subsequently stated the interview had reference to a complaint by some employers that the Employees’. Federation had broken its compact im calling out the engineers. THE POSITION AT DUNEDIN. - I Per Press Association.] ■ ' DUNEDIN, Nov. 29. ■ The Dunedin coal merchants" have fairly good stocks of Newcastle coal, consequently they have. no immediate intention of raising prices and will a wail; - developments^.