N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2687, 17 December 1909, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

CABLE NEWS,

LABOR LEADERS AT LOGGER-

HEADS

'JnITED I’utHH Ahhooi avion SYDNEY, Dec. 16.

During the hearing of cases against thd strike leaders at Newcastle it was / stated that the following cable had been sent to Mr. Edwards, Labor M.P. London, and to, miners’ secretaries in -Canada and “Thirj;pen thousand coal miners' on strike. Employers refuse all overtures for a conference or .-redress of grievances. They mean to ' starve the men into submission. Thirty thousand unionists are striking in support of the miners. Heavy financial assistance urgently required.” Mr. Hughes addressed a large meeting of miners last night. He said he 'believed a condition of things had been created at Newcastle district which had become intolerable: He believed that these conditions were deliberately created by employers. He believed the owners had wanted for „these many months past just such a struggle as the present one. “Although,,” be said, “they may have been caught so far as a day or a week is concerned, they had been' deliberately bringing about such a state of affairs.” It was, he continued, to their financial interest to precipitate such a crisis. He knew from reliable sources that it was the intention of the employers not to bring about a settlement until January. Although they desired it, he had not advocated a general strike, and never would. They were face to face with a Government that would do nothing for them. He was present to put down the idlers of the Industrial Workers of' the World. He was for the cause of labor on a constitutional basis. They were waging an unequal fight, because there was not a majority of the Labor party in Parliament. There was nothing wrong with the gun of the law. “For centuries,” he said, “you have had it turned against you, and learned to despise it. Turn it round against the Vend and elsewhere, and will find nothing so effective as this gun of the law.” Pressure would be brought to bear on the Vend, hut he would not say how, as that was part'of the campaign.

Great disorder followed the address by Mr. Hughes. Mr. Bowling accused Mr. Hughes of not taking his colleagues into his confidence in reference to his intention to address a meeting. Mr. Hughes had tried to draw a red herring across the trail. He did not want a general strike, because his own men would be called out, and he would be a" criminal like Peter Bowling. He believed a certain course would minimise the struggle. The present course was prolonging it. If the leaders would not call them out, the men should come, out themselves, and tell the leaders what to do.. "

Mr. Hughes came forward again. Amid a scene of disorder caused by the rival parties, he declared he had been invited to come by the actingpresident of the Miners’ Federation. He had attacked no man, but nevertheless he had been obliged to.listen to a tirade of personal abuse and tittletattle tlxat would disgrace an antediluvian washerwoman. The miners’ delegates to the strike conference had kept them in the dark as to the true state of things. He moved for a general strike on the first day of the conference unless an open conference was granted, because he believed Mr. Bowling had seized the psychological moment. When he looked into the matter he found the miners, at Mr. Bowling’s bidding, had played the masters’ game. The statement that Mr. Bowling was always anxious for a .general strike was .untrue. He moved that the conference give fourteen days’ notice. Messr Bowling and Hughes, amid disorder, gave one another the lie, but Mr. Paterson, president of the Miners’ Federation, testified to the accuracy of Mr. Hughes’ .statement. Mr. Hughes declared that Mr. Bowling had said if he (Mr. Bowling) would agree to work the Young Wallsend and Ebbw mines, there would be no general strike. That was the bargain he wanted made. (Tremendous uproar.)

The meeting broke up in disorder.

STATEMENT BY MR. WADE

(Received December 16, 8.45, p.m.) In the Assembly, in reply to a question, Mr. Wade stated that Mr. Hughes sought an interview yesterday, and made a proposal that the southern miners would go back to work df the Government would sacrifice its member now sitting on* the Mines Wages Board, and remove him. His answer to Mr. Hughes was that if that was the price of work being resumed, then “absolutely not.”

Mr. Wade moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to permit the passage of a Bill to amend the Industrial'Disputes Act by prohibiting certain monopolies and certain contracts, agreements and combinations in restraint of trade.

] DEBATE IN STATE PARLIAMENT.

(Received December 17, 1 aim!)

Mr. Wade said that he regretted that at a late stage of the session ;the Government had to isbek the (power asked for in the motion, to deal with the industrial crisis. The present continued turmoil, discomfort and sufferand the prospect'of similar occurrences in the future, were the reasons for the , Government asking for the power to interfere. The Oppositionists protested- against rushing such an important measure,, and said there was no need for panic legislation. •

CABLE NEWS.

The closure was applied and the motion carried. Mr. Wade then moved the introduction of the Bill.

DISCUSSION AMONG THE STRIKERS.

Mr. Hughes conferred with tfle representatives of the Newcastle miners and wharf laborers, an ( d subsequently Mr. Hughes, -with several of the northern delegates to the Strike Congress, returned to Sydney. The Congress is now sitting and discussing their report.. A Newcastle message states that the meeting was stormy. Mr. Hughes argued that the cause of the northern miners would he best served by the southern and western miners returning to work, and ■ urged the neecssaty of giving the Strike Congress supreme power. The miners’ delegates afterwards discussed the question, and there is ground to believe they fell in with Mr. Hughes’ views. Mr. Mitchell, secretary of the Federated Colliery Engine-drivers’. Association, told an-- interviewer that- he intended to take the responsibility of advising the southern and western men to return to work.

From other delegates it was gathered that they (intended to visit the southern and, western districts in the next few days, but they did not disclose tbeir purpose.