MINING CRISIS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 5

MINING CRISIS

A THREATENING TURN

OWNERS' MOVE AGAINST" THE

REDS.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIBIT.) (Received 9th May, noon.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

There is exery indication that the coalowners are fully determined to end the reign of the disturbing Red element. It is understood that the question of introdxjcine volunta«3? labour into the idle mines will be discussed at their next meeting-. The adoption of the proposal would involve a general miners' strike.

The trouble so far is mostly confined to the Maitland field, but the position is now complicated by a strike at the South Clifton colliery, in the south coast field, where seven hundred men are idle. TJie SAiiss of the trouble is the payment fox splitting pillar coal.

_ SYDNEY, Bth May. The coal position is unchanged. The men claim that they have been locked out. The owners deny this, and contend that the pits are open for the men as soon as they choose to start, but declare that the Red element which has been responsible for the frequent strikes during the past few years must be got rid of. The secretary of the Northern Coal-own-ers' Association states that there are oniy about 80 Reds among the whole 15,000 employees on the Northern field. The council of the Miners' Federation willmeet on Tuesday next to discuss future action.