NEWCASTLE CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 7

NEWCASTLE CRISIS.

CONCILIATORY EFFORTS. SO FAR NO SUCCESS ATTAINED. GENERAL STRIKE REJECTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.-CopyrlehU : Sydney, November 29. The "Sydney Morning Herald" is responsible for tlio statement that the Striko Congress on Friday took a vote on tho question of calling a general strike; and that,tho vote was defeated. ■■■■'■• ' . . Through the medium of Dr. J. B. Nash, M.L.C.,' the Northern Colliery proprietors will meet Mr. Bowling to-day, in order to endeavour to bring about a settlement o£ the Newcastle coal striko. ■ . ■' The game mediator is alscv trying to bring the Southern proprietors. and men together. The Parliamentary Labour party will hold a caucus to-morrow to consider the general position. , ;.. . ; • ' ■ " . .■■.' ' .

A cablo message has been received from tho English. .Minors' Federation in answer to the appeal of the Strike Congress for funds,'stating' that the appeal will bo considered at the next meeting. ... ' ....■-.-' : • APPEAL BY MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE. ■•", CONDITIONAL RESUMPTION. ': ■ ■ '■" {Eec. November 29, 10.5 p.m.) : -:' Sydney, November 29. ' The Mayor of Newcastle has. communicated with the chairman of. tho Northoni Colliery Proprietors' Association, and with Mr. W. M, Hughes, Labour leader, urging, them to'confer with a .view .to; a settlement of tho strike, and suggesting, aa a possible basis of, agreement, and in view of the dire distress and proximity of Christmas, that the men 'resume work upon certain concessions, pending a finding (to bo mutually approved) by. the Court of Arbitration. ■ ■■•'- ■ . ■ . ' '■■'■: i .. ■ • ■;, The Mayor expresses a belief, that the miners as a whole are anxious for a peaceful settlement,' and ■■ ho snggests that, certain concessions having been made to the 'miners,, they should pledge themselves to work/for a defi. nite period without a strike,' •■.':'" ~ ■:-■•■ ; ; LITTLE PROGRESS. ;/; \{[:.' : ' .' (Rec. November. 30,- 0.35 a.m.). .. . .'....■ '- : Sydney, '-November 29. . .The Strike Congress considered the suggestion made .by the Mayor of Newcastle,/and empowered Mr. Hughes to confer with Mr. Learmonth, . ohairman 'of the Northern \ Colliery Proprietors' Association. :.■,:.■ . ;■■ '■'.'■ I Judging by .to-day's .developments, the effects of-Dr. Nash's mediation.-have probably been over-estimated. Dr. that , ho, conferred with Mr.. Bowling several, 'times, and hoped that Gomottmg had been arranged to bring the lamentable condition of affairs, to a 'termination, but knew nothing of Mr. Bowling meeting ,the proprietors to-day. The Strike Congress, and Mr.; Learraonth also profess no knowledge.';! ..,!/ . '.'. ; ' '.-, '■'■■.- : '

.■.■Hγ. , Bowling saw,,one . of-the leading pro. prietors nt .Newcastle.', to-day. It \vns subsequently 'etated that the.. interview.' had reference to a complaint by some employers that the employees" ' had broken id compact in calling out the engineers. . : .■.".'"■'■'''■' ■... '■-~. CO-OPERATIVE COLLIERY V ; .'; work commences, but haulage is ;'-.'"■■': -.;• •..■■: refused., ■," : :,. ..■ ■• .'■•■■ . (Bee. November 29, 10.6 . p.m.). ,■'.: ; ' . •...'■:. ■;,;• /■."■: , Sydneyj November 29. 'Work was 'commenced ; to-day at tho Eblnr main colliery.(ootsido-'tho Coal Vond) under Mr. Bowling's co-operative scheme (under which, it is understood; tho. owners and!'the strikers will divide the proceeds). ':•';■ * :' ■. [ When tho Railway Department was requested to..haul,, the ...coal,, it declined to-do so. : ; Tho reijuests .of .other'shipping agents'.wero similarly',, treated. .■.".-V ■■■'■ . ,::.:,: : . ■/ ■■■ .Negotiations in- the matter are now /being I carried'on with'the Chief. Commissioner of Eailways.. ■ ■.' .' '. . :, '-V. ■•' .)'■-. v"..;':;'; ;'. : / , -

CO-OPERATIVE PLAN ALARMS "VEND" '■X- : ' ;^'.v-: :-. .".owners.:"-, ?■■ ■■:■■': ;■..;. '■■ V KNEW: BEFOEEHAND,'....; i.'. ..-.:, . Auckland,, November 29. .Th'efiles'of the Sydney "Daily to hand by yesterday's boat contain the following late dispatch tolegraphed from Nowcas'tle:— ' "Newcastle, is,,'awaiting.'with a very great ■ interest, the. ine'oting of colliery: proprietors. During the "past two days, there , has'been' an indication thit the. proprietors are beginning to regard the position as: rather more', serions than, they ore willing to admit.': Several die;'. turbing factors .have lately /made .themselves felt, and it is: not at all certain that just now. the members of the' Hunter. District Colliery. Proprietors' Defonce Association are- an- entirely" happy., family'; • For, the first- time tboy aro ..experiencing an uneasy feeling that' tho collieries' outside the Vend are, perhaps, worthy of more; consideration in , the. present crisis' than they h,we been receiving. : Mr.; Bowling's threat to work a': co-operativd colliery was 1 at first- received ..with an' indulgent, smile,, but qvonts.havo, now 'so shaped: themselves 'that tho project -is not: only being/ soi'ibusly dis--cussed, but it bids- fair to cause.an "absolutedissension in the proprietors' ranks.:,- '■■'■■

: "The/seriousness the / trouble 'may bo' judgedVby the fact" tnat. some of, the pro- • prietora are: fully, convinced, that' certain persona who havo been in! their confidence are ■ pocuniarily interested in the scheme which' Mr. Bowling- hopes to, put into', operation.-'. The question is: 'Did anyone know that a striko w.as.likoly to-occur, .and didUhat 'person or persons use (the information for their own ad- ;■ vantage?'/.Thematter has gone'so far that a firm' of -solicitors has: been consulted, and it .s if certain allegations can .be substantiated thrte 'persons'may be arraigned .on 'a-charge of conspiracy." . ... ; '■■■ ■ aproviousconimunicatiou.-reproducedin this paper'on November 10, the Newcastle cor respondent: of. the "Sydney Sfoi-ning Herald » referring .to the.,.proposal -that' /the:, striiers should ; work a certain ■ coal-mine on a cooperabye.basis, remarked: "It is a'.significunf fact that certain men'lmviiiff an inside knowledge of this .colliery's .affairs, have' for tho past throe weoks been , buying up all available shnros "'. tho market. .It is also significant to noto tuat this particular collierr has been buyinß coal extensively, and has a largo stock on hand which it is easing oft at high .rales; This all points to the'fact that a select few ..know of the impending'strike, and that one man : had definito information as'to the exact date of the upheaval, and laid his plans accordingly. It is plainly evident that tho menVwho would work on snch a scheme were not actuated entirely by the desire to assist the miners; but largely .-by,.the' wish,to .'get'even' with tlie . associated' 'collieries, from, .whom -.they, have bad. to talco oiio.or two severe lessons. They now, see a chance of retaliation, and aro .going to- mako the most' of .tho'. The 'arrangement .with' tho, colliery federa> tion has been ,tho result of I ,deep-laid schemes, and those who have, managed, the coup.must necessarily have had exact information a3 to the time at which the strife, was to be called."], . v ■;-.,\•-, .:■■:. ■ ::.; '' ,

■ "•■■;. ■ EFFECT|,ON. CONSUMERS: 'V> (Eoc. Novomber 29, 10.5.p.m.)':.•" '.' ' . . : ' .'■'■ : Sydnoy, November-29. The Colonial Sngar Company's,: steamer Fiona, with.a cargo.of COOO.tons of'coal, was recalled from Fiji, and returned'-to Sydney today. -The coal will he used for the company's works at Pyrmont. '.. : :-"■'" The tram and train-services have been to-' dnyreducod by about one-third, j--".'''■''':. ' : ; ; . Eight .of. tho North' Coast Company's steamers are laid up.'...;.',-. "-.'■■'..'■. ; -. ;: ';V