IF WAGES ARE CUT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 9

IF WAGES ARE CUT

MINERS WILL STRIKE

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, sth Marcti.

Is New South Wales on the verge of another disastrous strike.' of coal miners? It would certainly seem so. Aggregate meetings on the coal fields have formulated a strike policy to be put into operation if the Federal Arbitration Court grants the application of the mine owners and redueos wages 10 per cent; Judging by the attitude of the Court in regard to applications which had reference to other industries, it is certain that the minors are duo for a reduction. There seems, to be no valid reason for their exemption. Some remarkable speeches were made at tho miners' meeting by their officials. The president of the executive, Mr. B. Hoare, said ho was in favour of the "Jock Garden policy"—that the Federal Government should declare a state of national emergency, take over all agencies, pool wheat, wool, and metals, and declare a 40-hour weok all round. Tailing that, there should be a general strike throughout the Commonwealth, i FASCIST ARGUMENT. "You have got to realise that the Fascist'movement is afoot to-day," he told the miners, "to fight against you, and I can tell you that the Federal authorities are inquiring into the activities oi! two highly-placed military officers. We are to-day sitting on the edge of a volcano. It is no use looking to the so-called Labour leaders. There are 200,000 unemployed in this country, and they are being harassed and chased from town to town while they are looking for the elusive job. These menwould be the spearhead of the revolution. Professional men who have been reduced from a luxurious living to somewhere near the bread-line, will be strong revolutionaries in an endeavour to regain their state of luxury. I am in favour of a general strike, but before advocating it I want your opinion." Mr. Hoare added that he had been told that the Tailwaymen would not be in favour of a general strike, for they feared that they would lose their privileges. It was after a great deal of fiery talk that the minors agreed to a general strike among the coal unions in the event of » cut in their wages. They, also instructed their executive to get into direct touch with those unions which were in favour of a general strike, so that a common lino of policy could be decided upon. By special arrangement neuter's world service, In addition to other special sources of Information, i« mcd in the compilation of the oversea* Intelligence imhll«h«d in ibis ittnt, and sil 3m (fcec4B IM SntMHt ** New, Zealand ret rwerWd,