CRUSHING LEVIES

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 9

CRUSHING LEVIES

AUSTRALIAN MINERS The existence of (be Australian Federation is said to bo imperilled following a revolt against high levies, and threats of secession by tbo Queensland branch have thrown tho council of tho federation into a panic. Tho history of tho federation has been largely one of strikes, and as strikes are expensive things, of levies, writes the 4 Post’s ’ Sydney correspondent. Queensland minors say that they have thrown away £40,000, and demand a reconstruction of the federation ami equilable readjustment, of the finances. Tb(9 aha claim that tho cost of the New Soutß Wales branch, which lias been involved in most of the strikes, is impoverishing the federation. Seven lodges in the southern districts of tho federation have definitely ref used to pay further levies, while throughout tho northern district discontent is said to bo rife. The whole of the trouble is due to the high cost of membership. When the Federation Council met iu Sydney recently tho Queensland delegates appeared with a mandate to withdraw from the federation unless all levies, with the exception of per cent, on capitation fees, were withdrawn. Queensland definitely refuses any longer to contribute towards futile strikes in New South Wales. That, in a nutshell, is the position. Queensland's revolt is easily explained by the fact that the miners of that State have contributed £34,000 to tho funds of the federation, and have drawn out only £19,000. Thus the federation has shown a profit on Queensland of £45,000. Miners in the Iliawarra district in New South Wales are in much tho same position as the Queenslanders. They have contributed strike funds for the Newcastle district until they tired of doing so. and now they ataU they are in revolt. The Scarborough lodgi and several of ihe smaller lodges, the members of which wc.'-k peacefully all the yew round, are joining in the opposition mov# mont. , * -