THE COALMINERS' STRIKE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 14, 18 January 1910, Page 5

THE COALMINERS' STRIKE.

Press Assn—By telegraph—Copyright. toxDNEY, January 17. The hearing of the charges against Messrs Bowling, Hutton, Butler and O'Connor, officers of the Miners' Unions, has been resumed in the Industrial Court. The evidence of the managers of a number of the Southern (illawarie) Collieries went to show that the agreement between the mine owners and the miners expired in March last, but since then they have been working under the old agreement, and conditions. These witnesses said they knew of no real grievances that the southern men had. The Australian Workers' Union Conference has voted relief for the strikers . The southern ballot covered a dual issue. The final result was:—For the Wages Board, 958; against, 855. For the old Strike Congress, 877; against (for Mr Bowling's congress), 910. Many of the miners did not vote. This is only the first step towards settlement. According to the secretary of the Cbalworkers' Federation it is thoroughly understood that the southern men will not return to work before the northern men. A representative of a leading coal company is responsible for the statement that northern proprietors will inevitably refuse Mr Bowling's scheme for arbitration, and accept nothing but a Wages Board under the Industrial Disputes Act. (Received January 18, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Trouble is threatened at the Balmain colliery, which for the past three weeks has been producing 300 tons of coal daily. The miners complain that the company is not abiding by its agreement that no, coal should be sold while the" strike lasts. The Newcastle Coal Company has asked the Government to supply foreign coal when it arrives. The company's stock is almost exhausted.