COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 11

COAL DISPUTE

PLIGHT OF NEWCASTLE BUSINESS PEOPLE DEPUTATION TO ACTINGPREMIER (Rec. July 30, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, July 30. A reputation of business men from Newcastle interviewed the ActingPrime Minister to-day, and explained the plight of themselves and their employees. They said that if the coal mines were not soon reopened they would become bankrupt. Mr. Buttenshaw said in reply that Cabinet had the matter in hand, and he would make an announcement shortly. GOVERNMENT AWAITING COMMISSION’S REPORT (Rec. July 30, 10.30 p.m.) Sydney, July 30. It was announced by Mr. Buttenshaw after a meeting of Cabinet tonight that the Government was unable to intervene in the coal dispute at the present juncture. Ministers must await the report of the Coal Commission. He would ask the commission to expedite the report upon that aspect of the evidence relating to owners’ profits. NO HOPE OF VICTORY FOR MINERS Newcastle, July 30. The organiser of the Federated En-gine-drivers and Firemen’s Association, Mr. Sutherland, stated in an interview that in his opinion the moment for conciliation in the coal dispute had arrived, and that the combined unions’ present policy of passive resistance not only offered no hope of ultimate victory to the mine employees, but was economically slaughtering the whole community.