MINERS NOW THE MAIN TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 5

MINERS NOW THE MAIN TROUBLE

CASE FOR BOTH SIDES STATED Tho minere, who eamo out in sympathy with the railway men, are stubbornly carrying on the struggle after the origin?! trouble has been settled.. Mr. iVler, Acting-Premier, sets out tho paso for tho Government m follows — "There is no doubt that, except as to ■tho coal difficulty, tho strike is practically over. Tho Government has no .degiro to p'rotracl tho struggle, but the essential facts relating to the coalmining difficulty must again be restated. The coal miners of this Stat© deliberately went on strike .in sympathy with (he railwavmen. It was admitted by their leaders at the time that they had 1:0 Grievances of their own. They hat} from the Federal Govornment secured tlie appointment of a special tribunal io settle iheir Grievances during the period ot the war. That, tribunal granted them their own interpretation of eight hr.urs' bank'to bank, also conceded an increase in wages to the extent of nbout 20 per cent., and gave improvement in a number of industrial conditions. As a re"turn for these concessions the Coal Miners' Federntiou agreed that_ hey would not strike during the period of the war. The' moment the railway strike occurred, however, l he.v wore WHuced to hold up coal supplies. _ ihe essential fact is that romars as a body ceased, work, and only a few dnT3 a?o the president of their association. Mr. Bnddoloy, announced that in similar circjirastances the coal miners would -pursue exaotly the same course, ji.nd that whon the Government- took feteps to cut coal for 1110 community somo {nine owners were =erved with nnt-i<?e that their managers mould be declared

'black' whenever operations wore resumed. Tho Govoi'Jimciit in the circumstances had, and still lias, only one duty o perform. /

"Wiiea uio ■ liberatoly challenges the community and ' states that it will not cut coal to meet our necessities unless its own terms in detail are granted, wo can only accept this challenge in tho sarno way as we accepted tho challengo of the raihray 1 employees. Just as we have proved to the community that we can run the railways without the concurrynce a stride committee, go we must establish iLat wo can get sufficient coal for the needs of the community without tho. consent of the Coal Miners' Federation. I again say," continued Mr. Fullor, "that tho Government does not desire to continue (his struggle, "but it must convince tho Coal Miners' Federation, Just as it has oonvincod other organisations wtiich claimed the right to dictate terms on which tho industrial operations of the Stale are to be carried on. We have on* tered into certain obligations in tho coal trade, as in other trades. One of these obligations is that we will be loyal to the men who have been, 1 loyal to the Government. We will stand by cur pledge in this direction, as we have stood by it in others. In the coal lining industry, as in other industries, .the rank and file of tho workers have Ipj been consulted. They 'iave l>een Drought into this struggle without due deliberation. "My answer to the Coal Miners iedoration is -that they at least take a secret ballot, on the one question as to whether their members support the present attitude of the federation. Resolutions carried at meetings "under pressure oi the executive are of no value. . I am satisfied that the coal minors as well as tho other trades realise the futility of this struggle, its wicked genesis' and its etILl more wicked continuance. I am as firm in my determination as ever that even now with only the coalminers to deal with, the issue before the public is whether , a legitimately constituted Government of the State ,is to control our affairs or whether we are to allow irresponsible strike leaders to dictate the terms on which the affaire of the State to be run. Tho coalminers say that this matter can be adjusted in a few hours. I believe it can be. But lam satisfied that the final settlement of the .whole trouble depends upon, the Coal Miners' Federation as well as other unions aocepting the principle that no union without any grievances, working under special tribunals for war purposes,. has the right by a direct or sympathetic strike to persist in holding up the industrial affairs of Australia. My Government wants a settlement of this matter as much as the Coal Miners' Federation. Bqt.it will only accept a settlement which 'etablishos the right of 'the Government elected by the people to control the affairs of the State. Every day that the coal-miners hold up the community, they bring additional loss to the whole community. I make another appeal that they, as well (is the other unions, should accept the situation as it exists to-day, and help the Government in, re-establishing # the fabric of social life on sane principles. It may be unnecessary," Mr. Fuller concluded, "but I deny the suggestion that this Government wants the pTesent conflict to continue, but it started out to establish certain principles, and it is prepared to go on until they are accepted! by coal-miners, as well as by other bodies 'of industrialists.'". The Men's Case. TKe following official statement was given out as emanating officially from the Coal'and Shale Employees' Federation:—The miners 4 are prepared to resume work forthwith on the terms and conditions existing prior to the stoppage. The federation has not asked any concessions whatever in connection with the present trouble. A majority of the minora were thrown idle because there was no wagons available to put coal in. In several instances the men were told by the management to take a holiday; at tfiese collieries the whistles have not blown for work 6ince. The men. are now asked by the Government to- resume work on terms which are considered by thenf to be a violation of the terms of their agreement. Following, are "the Government's terms 'and our answers 1. Tho Government is to continue to •work all mines in New South Wales. Miners'-Answer—This is a matter for the Government, and does not concern. *us; it may be a - good thing for the public. 2. No mines in New South Wales are to be treated as "black." Answer. —This clause is superfluous; tho federation has not even suggested that any mine should be treated as "black." . 3. All permits issued the Minister under the Act to remain in force, if the holders so desire. Answer.—On the grounds of safety we strongly object to this clause, which means that any inexperienced person may, if ho so desires, continue to work,at the coal face find imperil the lives of hundreds of men. The Bulli, New South Wales, and 'Huntly, New Zealand disasters, which occurred while free labour, was employed, aro cogent 'reasons for our objection. i. The Government njanager to exercise his discretion to the re-employ-ment of men, but prior consideration to be given in each instance to the claims of miners previously employed. Answer. —We strongly object to the Government manager (which' means the present manager of ariy mines) having the power to discriminate as to those he will reemploy. We believe from .past expedience the same managers -would use this power maliciously, also that many men who have spent the best years of their life in coal mines would bo left out. simply because they are not ts Rood workmen as they used to be. 5. Permits under tho Coal Mines Kegulation Amendment Act, 1917, only to be issued in respect of a mine where employees are on strike. Answer. We think this matter could be satisfactorily arranged. . 6. Kates of pay and working conditions to be tho same as thijse existing on August 1 last, and to continue on that basiß during the currency of the orders made by Judge Edmunds. Answer.—This clause contains all we ajre> asking for. THE BROKEN AGREEMENT ANOTHER "SCRAP OF PAPER." In reference to tho dispute with, the miners, the Acting-Premier has made.the following ' statement:—"The original order made by Mr. Justico Edmunds contains tho following clause:— Tho representatives of the employers and the employees, having agreed between themselves upon the terms and conditions which should govern ,tho industry, and having agreed with Imo that upon tho enforcement of the ' said terms and conclttions thel'o 6liall be a period of industrial peace in the coal and shalo mining industry throughout tho Commonwealth for llireo years, from January 1. 1917, and such further timo as tho present European war may continuo. The order then proceeds to grant the increased rates on which this undertaking was given. It seems incrediblo to me." 6aid Mr. Puller, "that any sane man, in view of tliis agreement, and of its contemptuous abandonment, can contend that the Government is acting unreasonably in insisting tliat the of settlement which applied to the railway men shall also apply minors'Vllo desiro to resume work."