THE MINES DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 108, 7 May 1926, Page 7

THE MINES DISPUTE

PBOSPECT OF STOPPAGE AT WEEK-END.

SYDNEY, 6th May. Unless the unexpected happens quioklv. there will be a general cessation of work on Saturday in all collieries in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. It is now expected that final notices will be issued to-day by the Engineers' Association to branch secretaries, informing them that the two days' conference held in Sydney proved abortive, and instructing the executives that as the fourteen clays' notice ends on Saturday all members of the association engaged in the mines will cease work on completion of the night shifts on that date* and requesting them to leave everything in proper order. The statement adds: "If successful intervention happens before., the expiry of the notice, they will be informed." The Minister of Labour is continuing his efforts to secure a settlement, and had an interview to-day with represenj tatives of the owners and engineers, but so far apparently his efforts have been fruitless. If the engineers cease, over thirty thousand miners will be rendered idle. A Cabinet meeting to-day, without Mr. Lang, who was absent assisting in the Queensland election, campaign, discussed the position. It is understood that Ministers take the view that as both sides in both the forty-four-hour and mining disputes are adamant, there is small chance of settlements being reached, and that, as all the States are involved, Mr. Bruce should take steps *o end the troubles.