MINING PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 261, 4 November 1929, Page 7

MINING PROBLEM.

N.S.W. Legislation May Prohibit Free Labour. AN EXISTING LAW. SYDNEY, November 3. The possibility of the New South Wales Government endeavouring to employ men to work some of the collieries in the event of the failure of the conference to be held on Thursday, and of it using free labour if necessary, is said to have been eliminated unless legislative authority is first obtained. In 1925 the Lang Government legisllated to keep free labour out of the [mines on the .ground that inexperienced men constituted a source of danger. It enacted that only skilled miners with at least two years' experience should be permitted to work in coal faces. The Miners' Federation would not be likely to respond to a call by the Government in the present crisis. However, there is a chance that if the matter is put to the test former miners may come I forward. There are many of these men in the State who were forced our of employment when the two large mines at Cessnock wsre closed down two years a^o.

WARNING TO GIRLS.

FAR EASTERN TOUES. (Received 2 p.m.) CA>~BEERA, this day. Mr. Blakeley, Minister of Home Affairs, referring to a report that a troupe of girls from Australia or New Zealand contemplated engagement as dancers to tour the Far East, "warns" the young women to be extremely careful before accepting offers. The conditions under which they have to perfom are frequently undesirable and the salaries are insufficient to meet expenses.

RUSSIAN DIVORCE.

VEST EASY MATTEE. LONDON, November 3. Counsel in a divorce case yesterday stated that according to the law in Russia any husband or wife, without notifying each other, can go to a certain Department of a Russian Consulate abroad and register a divorce. This operates immediately and is absolute. ilr. Justice Hill: Suppose one party is aware of -what i 3 about to be done and appears at the Consulate to oppose it. Would any attention be paid to the protest? A member of the Russian Bar who was giving evidence replied in the negative.