MOVES TO AVERT COAL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 296, 10 September 1938, Page 11

MOVES TO AVERT COAL STRIKE

Premier To Receive Miners

LAST-MINUTE EFFORTS IN AUSTRALIA Four Thousand More Men Stop Work By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received Sept. 9. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 9. Important last-minute moves to avert a general strike among the coal-miners were made to-day. The Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, agreed to receive a deputation from the Miners’ Federation to-morrow. The Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Stevens, announced that the Minister of Mines, Mr. Vincent, had motored to Canberra in order to discuss certain features of the dispute with Mr. Lyons. The Federal Opposition Leader, Mr. Curtin, also entered into the peace negotiations after a telephone conversation with the miners’ leaders, who declare that they would be satisfied with a Federal investigation into their grievances.

Yesterday the general secretary ot the Miners’ Federation, Mr. W. Orr, sent the following telegram to all districts :—

“In confirmation of the decision of the directions committee, all work must cease as from Friday.” Mr. Orr said: “Our instructions will be carried out 100 per cent, in every pit in the Commonwealth.” Four thousand miners at Cessnock coalfields ceased work to-day. About. 7000 tons of Briitsh coal have been ordered by the Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Company in expectation of a prolonged strike.