N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2712, 18 January 1910, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

THE MINERS’ BALLOT. CJnITKIJ I'lllCHH AbSOOIATIQN —CoPYRIQIIt SYDNEY, Jan. 16. The Southern miners’ 'ballot is incomplete. So far it shows a small majority in favor of accepting a Wages Board. SYDNEY, Jan. 17. The Southern miners are .apathetic as to thb ballot. Proportionately very few are voting. All the lodges in Maitland district rejected the Wages Board proposal. STRIKE LEADERS ON TRIAL. I (Received January 17, 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 17. The hearing of the charges against Bowling, Hutton, Butler and O’Connor w-as resumed at the Industrial Court to-day. The evidence of the managers of a number of southern collieries went to show that the agreement between the mine-owners, and the miners expired in March last, but since they had been working under the old agreement conditions. The witnesses knew of no real grievance which the southern men had. The Australian Worker? Union conference has voted relief for the strikers.

RESULT OF SOUTHERN MINERS’

BALLOT

(Received January IS, 12.10 a.m.)

The Southern mners’ ballot covered a dual issue. The final result was: For a Wages Board 958, against 555; for the old Strike Congress 577, for Mr. Bowling’s Congress 510 Many miners did not vote. This is only tlm first step towards a settlement. According to the secertarv of the Coal Workers’ Federation, it is thoroughly understood that the Southerners will not return to work before the Northern men.

A representative of the leading coal companies is responsible for the statement that the Northern proprietors will inevitably refuse Mr. Bowling’s scheme of arbitration and accept nothing but a "Wages Board, under the Industrial Disputes Act.