STRIKE THREAT.
AUSTRALIAN COAL INDUSTRY. UNEASINESS IN BUSINESS. (United Pres 9 Association —Copyright.) SYDNEY', September 7. The miners’ decision to begiai a general strike on Friday is creating uneasiness in business and shipping circles. The popular feeling had been that the miners were “bluffing,” but the situation has taken a different complexion and all industries using coal are much perturbed. Most gas companies have from two to three supplies of coal. A prominent coal-owner declared that the miners’ action had created an intolerable poison. They had been taking one day off a week for sevei'al weeks, inducing their output by 20 per cent. Their claim for a six-hour day from bank to bank would in reality work out at a four-hour day, while if all their demands were graaited the additional cost a ton, ho said, would be 10 shillings. Mr J. Curtin (Leader of the Federal Opposition) is urging the Prime Minister to intervene and convene a conference of the parties “with a view to avoiding grievous, ultimate loss, irrespective of whether the strike succeeds or fails.” DOUBT ABOUT OTHER STATES. TASMANIANS OPPOSE STOPPAGE. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr Lyons said he could not adopt Mr Curtin’s suggestion that the Federal Government should intervene. He appealed to the miners to settle the dispute by arbitration. There appears to be doubt about the position of miners in other States, although the Victorian branch of the Miners’ Federation is prepared for a long stoppage, and members have not yet been instructed that they must begin a general strike to-morrow. It is doubtful whether the Queensland miners will strike. If they do, it will not be until after Monday, when stopwork meetings will be held. The. coal-miners in Tasmania, despite their objection as individuals to a general strike, apparently are to be forced into a Commonwealth strike. The men on the Tasmanian fields do not conceal their objection to the cessation of work. ,
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 281, 8 September 1938, Page 5
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325STRIKE THREAT. Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 281, 8 September 1938, Page 5
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