STATE MINE IDLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 673, 25 November 1909, Page 7

STATE MINE IDLE.

STRIKERS FIRM.

THeV WILL PURSUE <A WAITING GAME, ; OTHER MINES WORKING. (By Tolegraph— Press Association.) ■■.•-. Greymouth, November 24. Matters in connection with the strike at the State mine are unchanged. sides are awaiting developments. . .' - There appears to bo a keen determination on the part of the mon to remain firm, and they contend that they have not been fairly treated.

It is asserted that the Strugglo will be a lengthy one, unloss tho Government givo way on the'matters under dispute.' .•...-. . There is very little to report, as everything is quiet at the Stato mine, and most of tho miners are in'town. The engineers are still at work attending to matters , in connection with,the. safety.of the mine. : ' ;\

.' The miners state that they are prepared to remain quiet .until the Department makes tho move. As far as they are concerned, they will not \consent. to the reduction in tlio hewage rates, and unless the Government consent to do the trucking the strike will last for some time. ■•.■■■'.. . ■ ; ■ . ,

; ■', ... .'•''" Westport, November 24. " Work is going along briskly at the mines ut ; Denniston, Millerton, Ngakawau, and Seddonville," . .■ ' . ■. ■'■ At Denniston a claim was made'by the men for-.some slight increase, but was held over pending tho arrival- of Mr. Dixon, district superintendent: tit Wellington,' from Australia next Thursdny week. ,-'■'.' "'.-. ~ .'. , ■ ■So far as can be'ascertained, the; men in this district have no serious,grievances. ■.■ ' \ ■ . . . CHRISTCHXTECH SITPPLIES. . ■■.. ChHstchurch, November <li. '■' The supply of coal inCnristchurchisamplo for some time, and if the disputo at the State mine is settled .soon, and a prolonged strike avoided, little inconvenience will be- felt,, and no rise take place , in the price of coal. ' However, all interested in the coal business feel the position is.very, uncertain,,and, owing to the good organisation oC theminors out New Zealand, there ■ are" fears that the diffionlty. may assume greater dimenuons' and aifeot all'other-mince.' .',..,! : ':,. .. : '.' ■-. There .has been' a \ considerable '"run" -by' bondholders'on .coal-dealers, and heavy private orders -have been given; •■' ,;'■ : ■ .. '

CRISIS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. A DEADLOCK. ACTING-PREMIER ASKS BOTH SIDES TO MEET HIM. (Rec. November 25, 0.50 a.m.) Sydney, November 24. Recognising that a strike deadlock has arisen, tho Acting-Premier, Mr. Lee, has, requested both sides.to .meet him. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OFFERS TO MEDIATE. (By Telegrapli.-Prcss Association-Copyright.) Sydney, November 24. The Earl of Dudley, Governor-Genoral of Australia, has informed tho Prime Minister, Mr. Denkin, that ho is willing , to net as mediator in tho Newcastle coal dispute if both parties ask for .it. NO WORK, NO CONFERENCE. OWNERS FIRM. (Rec. November 25, 0.50, a.m.), - ' '' '■ >' Sydney, November 24. , Tho northern colliery owners, after a lengthy .meeting, decided to 'adhere ■ to their determination that no proposal for. a .conference shall be entertained unless tho mon first go back to work.' ' • RUMOUR ,OF DISSENSIONS IN VEND. ' Sydney, November 24. It is rumoured at Newcastlo that dissensions exist among the colliery proprietors, and that thero is a possibility of somo of them breaking away from Iho Coal Vend (owners' selling combine). It is further stated that, rather than allow the Vend to be dissolved, tho proprietors may i consider the advisability of ending tho striko. i STRIKE LEADERS THREATENED WITH I BOMBS, j. DIRE PENALTIES IF THEY GIVE WAY. (Rec. November 25, 0.50 a.m.) Sydney, November 24. The striko leaders have received anonymous letters threatening them with dire happenings if they act as strike-breakers. Ono writer, using tho nom de plume " Ferrer," stated that bombs were prepared to blow up tho Trades Hall. , Tho 6triktt leaders treat tho letters as jokes. ATTITUDE OF MINERS. RESUMPTION ON BANK-TO-BANK BASIS. Sydney, November l 24. In one southern district the miners' lodgos have recommended the executive that, if tho men- wore granted tho oight hours from bank to bank, they would' be willing to resume work pending a conference. EXCLUDED ENGINE-DRIVERS SEEK FEDERAL LAW. Sydney, November 24. Tho colliery engine-drivers and firemen aro much annoyed at the refusal to allow them representation on tho Striko Congress. Their federated association has taken action, under the Federal arbitration law, with a viow to obtaining redress of their grievances. t LABOUR MISSION TO' VICTORIA. Sydney, Novomber 24. A party of Labour meuibors of tho New South Wales Parliament aro leaving for Victoria to-day. It is understood their mission is to approach the miners in those States with a' request not to hew coal for New South Wales. ' EFFECT ON SHIPPING. (Rec November 25, 0.50; a.m.) Sydney, November, 24/ Tweaty-fiva steamers hays been laid up, and a thousand officers snd seaman ore idle. The ferry companies started reduced services to-day in order to conservo coal. ■' A Gorman mail eteamer managed to secure a thousand tons of bunker coal at £2 por ton. JAPANESE AND WELSH SUPPLIES. London, November 23. Supplies of .Japanese and Cardiff coal will probably be /available in Australia from the middle of December, costing twenty-five ehil-' lings a ton. j MR. LEE ACTING-PREMIER. Sydney, November 24. The Hon. C. A. Lee, Minister for Public Works, has been appointed Acting-Premier dnring Mr. Wade's illness. [Mr. Charles Alfred Loo, who is 67 years of ago, was Ministcr'for Justice.in tho Reid Government in 1898-99, and in 1901 ■ wns chosen Leader of the Opposition, and held that post until his health necessitated a temporary relinquishmelH of active Parliamentary work. Ho has been Minister for Public Works in 190 i. . . . Advices ■ from Sydney stnto that Premier Wade's mrdical advisers, Dr. Scot Skirving, and Dr. Wade, ordered tho patient to havo peace and complete rest for a considerable time, and only suspended this rule to allow him to hnvb n twenty: minutes' intorviow with the striko • delegate? on November 20, because thev (nought tho interview would be less harmful than for Mr. Wade to eubsequaatlj have on bis mind tho idea that hk.

intervention mijjht have done good. The illness is described by Hie doctors to bo intcsliiml absorption ot a s>eplic character. They had fears of tlio exibtence of typhoid fever, but a bacteriological examination of tho pafients blood, niado yostcrdny by Dr. Tide- 1 Well, of ihp Bureau of Microbiology, was noga-' tivo in this respect. They are not euro thai' tho patient nifty not yet develop cithor thie 1 fever or blood poisoning, the symptoms being somewhat in a transitional btage. Subscqnonl to the interview no perrons will be allowed to:boo tho Premier, who: has been told by the doctors to regard this as his last public duty for several weeks,] CO-OPERATIVE COLLIERY AND TH£ TRUST LAWS. MB. HUGHES CITES THE CASE OP THE VEND. Sydney, November 24. Mr. W. M. Hughes, president of the Waterside _ Workers' Federation and a formor member "of tho Fisher , Ministry, slate that Mr. Bowling's scheme for vorking a colliery with strikers' labour is completed, but tho time for starting work has not yet been fixed. Mr. Hughes scouts the idea ,of the Federal Government taking legal action in tho matter against tho minors, undor the Commerce or tho anti-Trust Act. Ho points out that tho alleged coal combino (the Coal Vend of tho owners) has been in operation under the shadow of theso Acts for months, and nothing has been done. Ho thinks the Miners' Federation, liko tho combine, may sleep soundly of nights. Tho throat of invoking tho Acts will not hurt them, whatever elso does.

■ [Reierring recently to tho proposal- to work with strikers' labour,: on a co-operative basis, two collieries, outside tho Coal Vend, Mr. \V. M. Hughes said: "If, this particular proposal turns out.successful it open's.-,a .way towards a permanent settlement, of some, if not all,, of. tho difficulties and troubles under which tho minors suffer.; Admitting that these two mines would.employ comparatively few men; it is'to be remembered that there are' very many others which, if, this ■ venture could bo worked tho same way; and thus there would be an absorption of tho' surplus labour of tho federation, an. inroad into ■the niononoly .of. tho trade by the Vend, and ultimately {ho possible solution of the whole of tho difficulties of the ; coal-mining iudustrios-as a whole.; It seems tho alternative of a proposal- for nationalisation. I admit .very freely that it is a small beginning; but if: tho nation •declines to own the coalmines, the: next be9t thing appears to mo to bO; that tho men engaged in tho industry ehould do so,"]. ■■!•' ": : ;'■■ ■. : LUmp'L|GHT ON NATiONALISATION. : .NEW' ZEALAND'S STATE STRIKE.;/.; ,'.'■': .';..■...' .■'.■'. ■ Sydney,. November-24. : Both the : morning papers comment on the strike of the Now Zealand State coal-miners. : . .-' Tho "Daily' Telegraph , ' , says: , "The long arm of coincidence has seldom indulged ;in, a.moro selfish >. freak ;■ .than.' that which brings about the Now .Zealand' -(jtriko;' .just.'r.-when : Mr. M'Goweii (the'. State Labour Leader); and his followers have como. out to.demand nationalisation of our coalrininers, as the only means' of prevention of a strike." '■-.. -.'■ i ; ; :; .'•.'■ . \ The "'Sydney', Morning Herald".declares that tho Now: Zealand, strike throws up tho boasted stability of. State-, control, in ; a lurid light, f.'.!

MISERIES., OF, A.,GENERAL STRIKE. V ;■;'..; REFUSING NATURE'S BODNTY; '■ : Dwelling on the hardships that .would be entailed by ■'α-genornl'' strike, tho .;■ Morning..; Herald" says: "It is: precisely the indifference to such ah , awful ■ extension of misery which; makes the proposals for a general strike so cruel, and which must brand everybody, connected with it as enemies of the State and: Commonwealth. We believe that the end would come quickly, sinco nowhere in the world has thcro been a successful-'hold up" of under tho'guns of militant workers.: In Europe tho thing-has been tried half-a-dozen times,- and': the result has been tho same. ,;'■-...,;..-,'..,...,.''..:■; , Australian ' -.'.■■-.-■'■•, ' ■''■■■:, in -Aiistraiia: 'tfcro' are Pcbnditions which must, make the process of breaking an extended 'strike'sti'euiaUy , painful. Coal cannot be mined ,by nnyboay. though''we'could soon find men to'take the place'of the miners :it the need hrose.-fand the long-drawn lines of communication by sea and land place us:at Bbme disadvantage "as , compared with closer settled' communities.' Should' all tho steam- : bhip companies be ; blooked even for, two or three, weeks, the,railways, could -not 1 possibly carry the; output ..of. pur pastoral .and' agricultural areas, and if they/.could there would be no way .of getting our\ wool ,ond wheat and -dairy produce, to. markot. ~ Stagnation: will sot m all over the" Commonwealth once' tho ways areJilooked, and money Vquired.to keep the wheels of trade moving will not >be; forth-' wranng; '.■ ... ;■ ...,- ~■■:, .v;-- ~, ,■ ■ i ,-.. ;v , -: S{ . .Fine Season in View.-■'•;'':'■■■: ■?.■: -.'■'''■':/: V ; "The exasperation caused by such a state of things will'be greater becauso.wc' are: approaching, Christmas, with 'one of the finest seasons on record ■ to" promise ns- good cheer It will: be tho i experience' of Tantalus'on a gigantici soelo if the community reaches the day of days,.with -its'promise of peace on earth towards, men .of goodwill, with barns' burstinc and sheep and cattle.fat, only to find them a burden land a mockery. ■ Our prosperity willsimply vanish,.pnd'wo shall ; be back at the condition m which the financial crisis of. ISO 3 found us. Thero will bo recovery, >.we ! believe, sines nothing can ultimately keep Australia down, but for this generation the result will jbe disastrous. Those., who will suffer most' will be the pcoplo'who are now talking- of a general strike with the least conception of what it must entail. .. ~. Woolmay .keep,;and wheat ■ ' "°t spo»-between now and Christmas, but wo shall; enter tho. new: year- . an' infinitelv poorer, sadder; community if.. the men and women everywhere ,who; depend upon the wealth ofxthe season, to tide 'them over innumerable difficulties ■ find themselves stranded. ',-';/, ' <.-.'■., . -.•••■'.