THE ONLY STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 15

THE ONLY STRIKE

WONTHAGGI DISPUTE

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 2.

Ouce upon a time, not so very long ago, Australia had the .reputation, fully deserved, of being the land of strikes and industrial turmoil. When the depression came, and so,many men were out of work, the wisdoru. of the strike method didnot appeal to the same extent, and for years now Australia'has had a period of industrial peace. Even the miners in.New South:-Wales, who were probably among the most Testless workers of the world, have thought twice before stopping work, and they have found second .thoughts best and have remained' at their job. Of course, they have threatened. The Militant Minority Movement has made some progress, but all its pleas for militancy have fallen on deaf ears. "What we have we'll hoia," seems to be the motto of the average Australian worker nowadays.

There is one exception. There is a strike in progress at the State coalmine at Wonthaggi, in. Victoria, which so far has lasted for sixteen weeks. During that time the miners have lost £.95,000 in -wages,, and the State has been involved in. maintenance at a cost of £14,000.' Since March, 1930, to the beginning of the present dispute the cost of stoppages at the "Wonthaggi mine to the management has been £24,605, and the miners have lost £So,ooo' in wages. This makes- a total loss of wages since March. 1930, of £105.000. Since the establishment of the mine in 3909, when the strike in the New South Wales coalfields struck a heavy Ijlow at Victorian trade, the mine has yielded more than-10,000,000 tons of coal.

There seems to be no prospect of settling tho 'Wonthaggi dispute, and now the Government threatens to close the mine, on which a township Of about 10,000 depends. The strange feature about the Wonthaggi dispute is that the minors are not fighting for higher wages, but for the reinstatement of two of their number who, according to the Government, were dismissed for insubordination. Many other side issues have come in since then, but the Government .refuses to consider these until there is a settlement of the main matter m dispute. Meanwhile the Miners' Federation is providing for the upkeep of the Wonthaggi miners and their families. What with strike pay and the suspension of.rental, Hospital, and dispensary payments, there seems to be no reason why the men should go backto work. That is why. drastic action may be taken by the ..Victorian Cabinet la-the fiea-r fniußo,