"MORE HOPEFUL."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 667, 18 November 1909, Page 7

"MORE HOPEFUL."

EFFECT OF MR. WADE'S INTERVENTION. A LABOUR DEPUTATION. PEOPOSAL TO RETURN TO WORK NOT YET ACCEPTED. (By Teleiraph-lTesi Aanoelatlon-OopyrlehtJ (Rco. Novomber 18, 0.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 17. Tho Striko Conferenco to-day considered a letter from the Premier, Mr. Wade, covering proposals intended to bring about a settlement of the dispute. Tho proposals aro on the lines outlined by Mr. Wado in his speech in tho Assembly last night, when ho said he was taking' dteps to ask the parties to empower him to fix a dato on which work should be resumed concurrently with the opening of the promised conference. Tie situation is now a little more hopeful. Tho Striko Conferenco adopted a resolution to tho 'pffecfc that they could not accept Mr. Wade's suggestions for bringing tho parties together, but would bo pleased to confer 'with' him. They appointed a committee of six delegates to wait upon Mr. Wade to-morrow morning. One suggestion that they will bring forward will bo that some of the more important of tho-men's grievances should.bo redressed before they return to work. A'meeting of Southern colliery proprietors expwssod willingness to accept Mr. Wade's ! suggestions, wi ,h a proviso that the employees j should givo a iiuaranteo that, in tho ovent of tho proposed conferenco proving abortive, they will continue to work under the conditions I existing prior to tho present stoppage, pending settlement of the troublo by the Wagcsßoard now in existence. This decision has been om-' bodied in.a letter to Mr. Wades ' The Northern colliery proprietors will meet on Friday to discuss Mr. Wade's proposals for resumption of work. WATERSIDE WORKERS TRUST THEIR ' OFFICERS. (Reo. November 18, 1.10 a.m.) Melbourne, November 17. A ballot of the watersido workers "favoured leaving the question of a strike in the hands of tho Council of tho Watersido Workers' Federation. A GENERAL STRIKE NOT POPULAR. REFERENDUM SUGGESTED. Sydney, November 17. Tho threatened general striko is not popular. At Broken Hill the majority of the men desire a referendum on tho subject. One union has already passed a resolution to that effect. NATIONALISATION REJECTED. Sydney, November 17. The motion moved in tho State Assembly by tho Labour Leader, Mr. M'Gowon, to i adjourn tho debate', in order to discuss tho question of tho nationalisation of sufficient collieries to 'supply public requirements, was negatived by six votes (35—29). > The Chiof Secretary and Minister for MineW Mr. Wood, characterised tho nationalisation of the mines as not only impracticable and impossible, but'absurd. VALUABLE BALLAST. Adelaide, November 17. The French barque Amiral Courbot has arrived here with two thousand tons of Welsh coal, which 6he carried as hallast. Coal in this city is now worth approximately £S a ton. UNDERWRITEES AND STRIKE RISKS. 1 (Rec. November 17, 10.5 p.m.) London, Novomber 17. In, consequence of the, Newcastlo striko, Lloyd's have received several orders to insuro cargoes of coal from Britain to Australia. In certain convenient cases vessels are being diverted. Tho underwriters havo safeguarded themselves against risk of damage by strikers.

STATE MINE DKSPUTE. EMPLOYEES TO HOLD A BALLOT. (By, Telegraph-Press, Aas v .clatlon.> Greymouth, November 17. The conference between the minors at the State coal mine and tho manager, Mr. Bishop, was resumed this morning, and lasted about a quarter of an hour. The manager submitted a statement showing what the result of the proposed change in trucking would be. The minors representatives adjourned till to-mor-row, end will hold a meeting in the meantime to consider the statement. Tho negotiations are being carried out in the most friendly manner, and there appears to bo no cause for thinking that there will bo trouble at tho township. The miners view with suspicion tho action of the Westport companics in putting on double shifts. i ,i . ~ . 'Later. As a result of the meeting of miners it was decided this evening to submit the matters in dispute with the manager to a ballot to-mor-row morning. THE.ACTIVITY AT WESTPORT. (Bj Teleeraph-Pres> Association.) t j l lx y^'P ol "'. November 17. In regard to the statement in a telegram from Greymouth that the miners view with suspicion the action of the Westport com. paniea in putting on double shifts, Mr. Curtis, manager of tho local branch of the Westport Coal Company, explains that his company has only resumed tho shift which was knocked off some months ago, and that this is done to meet Now Zealand demand, and tho bunkering of vessels at Wellington and other ports, an' 3 als oto meet the demands from tho gasworks in different parts of tho Dominion. His company, ho says, is not supplying outside demands. All tho coal which it can supply is required in New Zealand. No other company in this district is working a double shift, but bdth the Stockton and the State mines (in consequence of tho increased demand) are working with practically no loss of time.