DIRECT ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 19044, 12 September 1925, Page 6

DIRECT ACTION

ARBITRATION COURT REPUDIATED MOUNT MORGAN MINERS Press Association — By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Press Association. BRISBANE, September 11. (Received September 12, at 1.30 a.m.) A mass meeting of tho Mount Morgan strikers decided to withdraw their claims from tho Arbitration Court. The men stated that they ha.d finished with tho court, and were now going in for direct action. The Home Secretary (Mr Stopford) announced that he was informed thntl if tho company definitely decided to close the mine the men would accept the position, and those who were able to do so would seek employment elsewhere. Pie said ho had arranged for the directors of the company to meet the Premier (Mr Gillies) on Tuesday. The Minister added that lie had been informed that the Press reports of the trouble were exaggerated. TROUBLE LONG SIMMERING. MEN WANT DEFINITE STATEMENT. BRISBANE, September 12. (Received September 12, at 10.20 a.m.) Tho Homo Secretary, in a statement as member for Mount Morgan, said that what the men desired was some definite declaration of policy respecting the company's intentions, so that they would know exactly what to do. The trouble had been simmering ever since 1021, when a 20 per cent, reduction in wages was made. It was pretty safe to sny that with broken time, lost rime, and holidays the average wago of a surfaceman would bo about £6 a fortnight. In addition, it had been tho policy of the company for some years to threaten to close the works, and the men had become exasperated. The Minister said he did not think that the men objected to the closing of the mine, but they wanted a definite declaration of the company’s policy. Mount Morgan was a community where tho men owned their own homes, and tho uncertainty was depreciating tho value of them. Now a home, which before the reduction in wages was worth £2OO, would not realise £SO. There were 1,300 men directly concerned in the lock-out. Every section of the workers was solid. It is stated that Mr Rymor, State president of the Australian Railways Union, has wired the leader of tha Mount Morgan workers to inform Mr Stopford that tha railwaymen are behind the Mount Morgan workers regarding the four-four-hour week and a living wage. Commenting on fins, Mr Stopford said that there was no need to inform him that tho railwaymen were behind the Mount Morgan workers. They had always been behind them, especially in 1921, when they wore so far behind them that when the _ Mount Morgan men were fighting against the first wage reduction 18,000 railwayman contributed only £9O in a year. This time he hoped that the railwaymen would come a bit closer. He suggested that they should levy themselves 2s weekly, then possibly the past neglect might be forgotten.