N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2721, 28 January 1910, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL STRIKE.

CABLE NEWS.

EIGHT MINERS SENT TO GAOL. (JNITKU I'll HUB ASSOCIATION — COPTUIHIII SYDNEY, Jan. 27 A meeting of delegates of southern collieries decided by a small majority against the resumption pf work, but expressed the opinion that if an interim award of the Wages Board were made there would be a possibility of the men going back. Eight miners, for obstructing a carter at Whitburn colliery, northern district, were sent to gaol for periods ranging from 24 days to three months.

CONVICTION OF STRIKE LEADERS BOWLING SENTENCED TO TWELVE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. (Received Jan. 27, 9.35 p.m) SYDNEY, Jan. 27. The prosecution of Bowling, Hutton, Bowler and O’Connor, under the Strike Suppression Act, for taking, part in a strike meeting at Bulli, has concluded. Bowling was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labor, and the other defendants to eight months’ each. Bowling, in his address, said that th e old congress had dissolved, leaving 20,000 men without leaders. A new congress had been formed with the intention of bringing about peace as rapidly as possible, consistent with the maintenance of unionism. It was the disaffection that had crept into the councils of the leaders that had led him ■to abandon the hopes of victory he had entertained up to that point. He recognised that defeat was inevitable, but it should be accepted by the unionists as a united body, not in scattered sections. He had' advocated peace and a speedy settlement at Bulli. He had not looked for any clemency if found guilty. He had been guilty innocently, and if he was imprisoned, he hoped that the men who trusted him would not petition for clemency. 'He would be no friend of his who asked for clemency '*f rom the Government that made, a criminal of him. Bowling spoke for an hour and a half. The judge, in summing up, said that the southern miners had no quarrel with the employers which was not capable of adjustment. When the men struck on a quarrel which was not theirs, was it not unionism' gone mad? Moreover, it was actually suggested that all the other unions handling coal should come out. Was that not tyranny ? What had other innocent workers in the community done that they should be deprived of a. necessary commodity? What of the poor people unable to get coal ? The country had been made a reproach among the nations because of the refusal to allow coal to be hewn or to go forth. The Government had exercised all the foroearanco possible in attempting to arrange a settlement. The Act had been oailed a Coercion Act, but any kind of Act, call it coercion or anything else, which was calculated to bring about peace, was to be welcomed. The defendants had proceeded in defiance of the law. He had ,no doubt that in their private lives they were as good men as could be. He supposed that some might say it was a crime, but this was not a crime, though the defendants had been guilty of a breach of a section of the Act in the most defiant manner. He could not help noticing and admiring Bowling’s natural ability which had raised him to the position of trust, but the information had been proved against him and the other defendants. There was a tearful leave-taking between the prisoners and their wives. The crowd cheered the men as they left the Court.