TO DISARM POLICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 82, 17 January 1930, Page 5

TO DISARM POLICE

LABOUR MAKES MOVE.

AUSTRALIAN COALFIELDS STRIKE

ULTIMATUM TO PRIME MINISTER

(United Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 8.H5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A Labour member of the Federal Parliament (Mr Eldridge) has_ telegraphed the Prime Minister (Mr J. H. Sculling asking him take steps to disarm the coalfields police, failing which be will convene a special meeting of the Labour Caucus to discuss the advisability of the Federal Government taking full control of the coal situation.

"MUST PREPARE FOR ATTACK."

PERMANENT ARMY OF WORKERS (Received This Dav, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The New South Wales Labour Council, at the Trades Hall, decided toform a. Workers' Defence Army. An official bulletin admitted that the army is a permanent revolutionary force. (» \e must prepare net only for resistance, but for attack," so the manifesto It is reported that the constitutional association intended to form a Fascist bodv, hut the Council decided that any unionist who joined would be expelled. . , . The Miners' Federation is supplying labour to fill the places of the enginedrivers who are on strike at the unassociated pits. . . The Miners' Executive advised tne miners to discontinue mass picketing. There are grave fears that owing to the cessation of pumping, some of the mines will become permanently unworkable. Active coal production at Rothbury is continuing, amounting to 150 tons a day. The coalojynsrs are holding an important meeting to-day to consider the terms proposed by Mr J. H» Scullin. There is a feeling of optimism that the solution may soon be found to settle the dispute.

DEFENCES PREPARED. MINERS LIE LOW ON COALFIELDS SYDNEY, January 10. The shock tactics adopted by. the police on the coalfields yesterday have had the effect of producing a lull m activities there' to-day, but the police are taking no chances. Additional motor vehicles for use by the police have been sent to the coalfields, and more are being shipped from Sydney to Newcastle this week. The question of using radio is now under consideration by the authorities, who believe that transmission sets at strategic points would strengthen their organisation. Gone for the time being is the Miners' Defence Corps, nor is it passible to discover large bodies of idle miners in anv of the principal coalfields. Streets, where hitherto their massing and speech-making were daily occurrences, are now empty. The police think that the miners may now turn their attention to Rothbury, where the defences, aided by flood" lighting, are most elaborate. 'Two hundred miners received a rude shock to-day when they learned that their food orders had been cancelled at Kurri Kurri. Some protested, arguing that they took no part in tbe lawless demonstrations. Their protestations were of no avail. At Melbourne to-day, the High Court reserved judgment in the appeal against Judge Beeby's award ordering resumption 'of work at the coalmines at pre-stoppage rates.