RESTLESS COALMINERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 252, 23 October 1919, Page 5

RESTLESS COALMINERS.

SUPPLIES FOR NEW ZEALAND. THREAT OF A STOPPAGE. SYDNEY, October 22. Mr. Willis, secretary of the Coal I Miners' Federation, wrote to Mr. \V. M. | I Hughes and to the owners' represent;!-1 tives drawing attention to the unrest | developing in the Northern coalfields owing to the increasing export of coal ; to New Zealand, which, it was alleged, | i New Zealand coal owners were tiding! to] defeat the New Zealand miners who are | I endeavouring to obtain increased wages I and hotter conditions. Therefore the I members of the Australian Federation are not prepared to produce coal for that i purpose. He urged the colliery pro- j I prietors to cease shipping coal to New j .Zealand until the dispute was settled, j failing which there was danger of the local miners ceasing work. J The owners replied that it was imposi sible for them to accede to the request. ]In fact, they hoped that the New Zcaj land demand for Australian coal would I increase, as a long time must ensue | i before the collieries could reach the ! i "standard of export trade- before the war. J Moreover. New Zeaia;id was also importing American coal, and a stoppage of supplies from Australia would handicap the local industry and benefit the American. A special meeting of the Miners' Federation has been called to discuss the matter.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) TROUBLE IN AMERICA. STATE MAY RUN MINES. NEW YORK, October 22. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" states that the bituminous coal operators and miners ' have failed to settle their differences fol- j lowing a conference with Mr. W. B. \ Wilson (Secretary for Labour). It is understood that the Government proposes to run the mines in the event of a strike which the miners propose to call ■on November lI.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) 1 I STEEIAVORKKKS' STRIKE. REFUSAL TO ARBITRATE. NEW YORK, October 22 The "New York Times" states that at the Industrial Conference all propoeals to arbitrate in the steel strike or to instiI tute collective bargaining were defeated. 'Jt is believed that the chairman has ■ received a letter from the Secretary for " Labour (Mr. W. B. Wilson) stating" that - ' the conference must reach a common ground of understanding, otherwise it will not be allowed to break up In the event of any of the members withdrawing ihe will appoint new groups. — (A. and I N.Z. Cable.) STEEL TRUST ADAMANT. NO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. NEW YORK, October 22. The "New York Times" states that at - the Industrial Conference all proposals r' to arbitrate in the steel strike or to f institute collective were de- ,• feated. It is ibelieved that the chairman s has received a letter from the Secretary t for Labour (Mr. W. B. Wilson) stating that the conference must reach a com--1 mon ground of 'understanding, otherwise lit will not be allowed to break up. In - ! the event of any of the members withi drawing he will appoint new groups. — - (A. and X.Z. Cable.) tl f With Government reports showing -1 that alien radicals are agitating for ii' strikes and disorders in all parts of the c country. Congress voted, last week, by 0 an overwhelming majority, to continue n J for one year after the conclusion of I peace the war-time, ban against the entrance into the United States of undesirable foreigners. It is well known that radical agitators are working to I gain control of all the present strikers iin America, and of thousands more who I are threatening to strike, for the purpose, it is believed, of leading the strikers in an industrial revolt bordering on a political upheaval. The fact that President Wilson, Colonel House, and Mr. '9'Gompers are all ill increases the diffie : culties of handling the situation. Mr. h Gompers lias warned the Industrial Con- \ ference that failure to reach some agreed ! reent means that the radicals and direct ,v ! actionists will find it easier to get coni- j trol of organised labour.