THE STRIKE AT NEWCASTLE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2712, 17 January 1910, Page 7

THE STRIKE AT NEWCASTLE

HUGHES ON BOWLING. “Mr. Bowling,” said Mr. Hughes on January 4, “appears to be in a bad temper with everybody and everything. I am very sorry for this, because the miners’ cause will suffer in consequence. “Instead of fighting tlic vend, he puts in his time making wild speeches and wilder charges against the members of the strike congress. He is very severe on Mr. Connington and myself. But ho doesn’t say a word against Mr. John Brown or Mr. Forsyth. “This is rather peculiar. Has Mr. Bowling forgotten what this dispute is about and whom it is with? Doesn’t he want a settlement? If he does, what is he doing to secure one ? For a fortnight or more now he has had a free hand. I have not interfered with him in any way. He claims that only those unions actually out on strike should direct affairs. AYcll, they are directing them now. AY hat more docs he want.

“Perhaps he wants to bring more unions out? Is lie’ still hankering after the ‘general strike?’ Air. Gray repudiates the idea.. Docs Mr. Bowling do so If he wants more unions to come out, lie ought te tell us which unions these are. If he wants the waterside unions out, let him say so, and I shall know what to do. “If lie can get them to conic out, which I rather doubt, of course, by his own argument, I shall be entitled to sit on his congress again. Then, of course, we shall again be in the majority, and lie will only be permitted to do as wo decide. It is as well to remind him of that obvious fact. So far as the transport workers are concerned, directly they are involved in an actual dispute their numbers, over 20,000 men, entitle them to take control, and Mr. Bowling may be quite sure they intend to do so.

“But perhaps he has other plans. If so, he lias now a free hand to give effect to them. I am sure we wish him every success, for the sake of the miners. As for his abuse of us, lie will find it will not help him much. The more thoughtful of the miners, are beginning to ask themselves a few serious questions. And if Mr. Bowling does not get to work and fix matters up they will surely ask him some very serious ones before many days have gone. ' “For the rest, I leave him to Mr. Connington—and Nemesis!”