BROKEN HILL STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 63, 15 March 1920, Page 2

BROKEN HILL STRIKE

S.O.S. CALL TO NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT,

A public meeting, called by the Labour Party, was held in the Grand Opera House last night for the purpose of appealing for funds for the miners of Broken Hill, who have been on strike for over ten months, There was a fairly large audience, which listened with, interest to the story of what promises to be Australia's greatest labour struggle. Mr. George Ward presided. The first speaker was Mr. W. T. Young, general secretary of the New Zealand Seamen's Federation, who eaid that although Broken Hill was many miles from New Zealand the fight of the Barrier men was the fight of the workers of New Zealand. The consequences of defeat in Broken Hill might be considerable in New' Zealand. On one occasion when there was trouble in the Dominion nobody gave greater assistance than the Barrier miners. (Applause.) The Broken Hill trouble involved 4371 children. 2570 women, and 3760 men. The relief payments had amouuted to from 17s 6d per week (for married men with four children) down to 7s per week (for single men)._ Those amounts had since be«n reduced. He felt sure that the appeal he would make to the working men and women on behalf of those men who were fighting for fundamental principles would not be in vain. (Applause.) Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary of the New Zealand Miners' Federation, said that a special appeal had been received from Australia urging that N£w Zealand should come to the assistance of the Broken Hill men until the Australian labour organisations were on a sounder footing than they were to-day.. The position as regards the young people was critical. Any money sent from New Zealand would only be lent, until a similar appeal was sent to Australia.. If the money was not returned in coin, it would be returned in the better conditions which victory would surely bring. The miners of New Zealand had willingly come- to the help of their comrades at Broken Hill, and were contributing 2£ per cent, of their earnings. The money went forward each fortnight. The lot of the Broken Hill miners was 100 per cent, worse than that of the New Zealand miners, and the Broken Hill mineowners could well afford to grant the conditions which were being asked for. He believed that it was because of the fear that a eimilar demand would come from all the other miners in Australasia that the Broken Hill miners were denied the shorter day.

"We are here to answer an 'S.O.S.' call from Australia," said Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour, "and let it be understood that the Broken Hill men are out to defend themselves." He knew that they would get the "deep sympathy" of the people " of New Zealand, but they wanted more than that. They wanted the deep sympathy to be deep down in the packet. In short, they wanted money. A faithful few had been contributing ever since the troublu started, but they wanted now liberality from all. The. Broken Hill miners would stick it out all right, but only so long as contributions were sufficient to keep their body and soul together. "If you can't made a contribution bj foregoing some luxury ask the boss for a' rise in wages, and give it bo the Broken ■Hill miners.'.' ■ (Applause.) "I think that if we take up the children's point of view, we, will give very substantial help," stated Mr. E. Ruddell, President of the Trades and Labour Council. "The married man who Jooks to his own home only takes up. a onesided attitude,, which is to be deplored." "Never has a call for "help been made in vain to the Broken Hill miners," stated Mr. E. Semple, organiser of the Labour Party. "They have helped industrial struggles all over the world. They ■are in the vanguard of the Labour movement. They are the Progressives—the .live-wires. In this fight they will starve themselves to death rather than work themselves to_ death for the benefit of a gang of exploiters. Are you—the people of New Zealand—going to let them starve?" He asserted that the Broken, Hill mine owners were paying dividends at the rate of £1,500,000— dividends before human life, every time. He appealed to all to do what they could to help the starving people of Broken Hill —tha home of big-hearted, kind, courageous fellows. The men were worthy of support, comradeship, and esteem. A motion calling upon the workingclass people of New Zealand to contribute^ to the sustenance of the Broken Hill: miners in their heroic struggle was moved by Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., and seconded by Mrs. Snow. The latter appealed particularly to the women, urging them _to "cut out" picture shows and hixuries.

'On a show of hands the motion wa-s carried unanimously, amidst applause. Three ehesrs were given for the Broken Hill miners.