COALMINERS' STRIKE.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4309, 12 November 1909, Page 5

COALMINERS' STRIKE.

OWNERS REFUSE CONFERENCE. Sydney. November 11. The Southern coal owners have declined to participate in a conference. They could not recognise and declined to meet in conference the representatives of bodies of employees with whom they had no business connection, or bodies of employees employed in another district with whom they had never stcoi in the relation of employer and employee. Further, the association had always been ready 10 meet its own employees in conference, but had consistently declined to deal with a matter in dispute so long as the men were outside the pale of the law by being on strike. A SYMPATHETIC STRIKE. Sydney, November 11. The United Storemen's Union have decided to strike on Tuesday, in support of the miners. STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES (Received 12, 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, November 12 The Miners' Delegate Board has issued a statement of grievances upon which the Newcastle strike was declared. It covers the whole of the troubles of the Northern coalfields for several years. Many points are raised of an intricate character. MR WADE CRITICISED. Mr Bowling, referring to the GO7ernment's proposed action, said that Mr Wade's speech contained a throat and almost in every line he appeared to be using threatening language. Bluff might frighten some people but miners were not to be frightened in that way. If Mr Wade took action he would be somewhere else than at Newcastle, and it would not be one of the miners who would be the first to be arrested. POSITION OF SHIPPING COMPANIES. The coastal shipping companies have followed the inter-state companies in raising freights and fares. TheU.SS. Company of New Zealand and the Huddart-Parker Company anticipate little difficulty in securing coal. The Union Company has a stock of 20,000 tons at Newcastle, which will be reserved for the use of the passenger steamers in the service. The stoppage of southern supplies is likely to seriously interfere with other companies. Fuel for domestic purposes is getting scarce, and the stoppage of work by a number of firms is inevitable unless an early settlement is arrived at. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS. Melbourne, November 12. Mr Fisher, referring in the House to the strike, advocated vesting powers for dealing with such matters in the Commonwealth, which would be better able to deal therewith than the States. Mr Deakin said he was opposed to sweeping away the authority exercised by the State tribunals. The Trades Hall Council carried 1 resolution supporting the strike. STEAMERS OUT OF COMMISSION. Several more steamers have been placed out commission and others will be laid up as they arrive. Over 300 shipping employees are already thrown out of work. TRAIN SERVICES REDUCED. Commissioners in cder to reserve the coal supplv are reducing the train services wherever possible. POSITION AT HOBART. Hobart, November 12. The steamer Karitane has been ordered to Sydney where she will be laid up. Coal is scarce and a big rise is feared. Some of the mines have closed. SYMPATHY OF A SORT. Brisbane, November 12. A meeting of the Waterside Workers resolved to cease work if I called upon. THE ULIMARO A TAKES NO RISK. i PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. | Wellington, November 12 I In order that the Ulimaroa should ' not be delayed in Australian waters in consequence of the Newcastle : strike, large quantities of coal are j being placed in the vessel here today. She will carry about 1600 tons | when leaving this afternoon, and | should have enough to bring her back to New Zealand without delay or inconvenience. THE LATEST(Received 12, 10.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 12 In response to the invitation to participate in open conference to redress the existing grievances, the Western Colliery proprietors stated that no grievances existed.

CABLE NEWS.

U -ii tod Tress Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

The Lithgow Miners Federation officials state that the request was not meant for a combined conference, but three separate conferences for the three mining districts. The [Northern proprietors meet at Sydney to-day to discuss the tionThere is reason to believe they will insist upon the resumption of work as the priory consideration to negotiations. A meeting of the Sydney Labour Council endorsed the strike, and gave its aoproval to the extension of the movement if proprietors decline to attend the conference. A mass meeting of waterside workers is called for Monday. The statement is made that if the proposed conference fails, waterside workers from Brisbane to Perth will strike on Tuesday. WESTERN MINERS OUT. (Received 12, 3 p.m.) Sydney, November 12. The Zig-zag miners are out. They are the first Western miners to join the strike.