IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 9 February 1927, Page 9

IN NEW SOUTH WALES

DELEGATES' DECISfON

STRHGE MAY SPREAD FURTHER

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Eeceived 9th February, 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day. The Miners ' Delegate Board has ordered a general strike in consequence of the rejection of the men's demands for improved rates of pay and conditions. This decision has to be ratified by aggregate meetings of miners. Until these are held there will be no work in any of the mines on the Newcastle or Maitland fields. At the Delegate Board meeting it was decided • not to fix a date for calling the aggregate meetings until they had got into touch with the Central Council in Sydney, in order that that body could fix the date for holding the aggregate meetings, as, although the northern executive has the power of autonomy in the matter, its position, "would be considerably strengthened if it first received the support of the Central Council. Should the Central Council oppose the holding of aggregate meetings, the board will adhere to its original decision. The sinister aspect of the attitude of the northern executive towards the Central Council is the possibility that with the support of the latter body there will arise a danger of all the miners in the Commonwealth being called out in support of the northern miners.

The whole dispute will be reviewed by the Central .Council to-day, when the northern executive delegate will attend.'

The State Minister of Mines, Mr. J. M. Baddeley, communicated with the Federal Premier, Mr. Bruce, seeking Federal intervention. He urged upon Mr. Bruce the necessity of convening a conference in order to obtain a mutual agreement for local boards to be created.

At present even a complete stoppage of coal supplies will cause small immediate inconvenience. Sydney has sufficient stocks in hand to enable industries to carry on for several weeks. There are now 15,000 minors idle in the northern field.