COALMINERS' STRIKE.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4311, 15 November 1909, Page 5

COALMINERS' STRIKE.

CABLE NEWS.

D.iited Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

LABOUR CONFERENCE. DISCONCERTING DEVELOPMENTS. Sydney, November 14 A lengthy conference of labour bodies was held yesterday, lasting till late last night. Not the slightest idea of the result is obtainable. Although no official information is obtainable, there is reason to believe that some disconcerting development occurred at yesterday's conference rendering it necessary again to confer with the executive of the various unions represented. After this is done, the conference will be resumed to-morrow afternoon. It is rumoured that the attitude of the Seaman's Union may mean a strike not to extend beyond this State. lvjr Bowling returned to Newcastle, presumably to confer with the miners' executive. EFFECTS ON SHIPPING. PROPOSED 10 PER CENT ON FARES, AND 25 PER CENT ON FREIGHT^. Dunedin, November T3 An advance in intercolonial fares of IC per cent, and in freights of 25 per cent, bringing the charges into line with those ruling in the interstate services of the Commonwealth, is contemplated by the Union Steam Ship Company as a result of the mining strike in Australia, but the date from which the scale shall come into operation has not been fixed yet, as further developments may make the change unnecessary. Should the strike last long, however, the difficulty and increased cost of getting-coal, and the general disorganisation of trade, will probably make the imposition of increased charges unavoidable. The mines on the West Coast are doing all they can to supply the sudden demands made upon them, and quantities of coal from Westport are being stored at Wellington, where the Melbourne-Bluff and Cook Strait-Syney steamers will coal. It is not thought that the intercolonial services -will have to be reduced, but a reduction hns already been made in the Tasmanian services, by permission of the" Post-master-General. The Loongana, running between Launceston and Melbourne, is making fewer trips, and the Hctbart-Sydney trade, carried on> hitherto conjointly by Huddart, Parker and Co. and the Union Company, is being maintained by one of the companies. DISTURBED INDUSTRIES. Brisbane, November 13 The wool sale fixed for yesterday was postponed, buyers declining to <\>erate pending Newcastle s;rike developments. GENERAL ADVICES. Melbourne, November 13 There is a general absence of definite comment 011 the Australian strike, because the cause of the trouble is unknown. There are numerous Australian orders and enquiries from Natal collieries, but all orders are declined owing to shortage of labour and the heavy local bunker trade. THE GENERAL STRIKE ALTERNATIVE UNSUPPORTED AT THE CONFERENCE. (Received 15, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 15 The "Sydney Morning Herald" says it is known that alternatives to a general strike were proposed at Saturday's conference, but failed to receive support- The situation appears to be this : Seamen were not in favour of a general strike, but the waterside workers were. Therefore it was determined to ascertain whether the waterside workers would strike, and whether, if they did, others would join them. The waterside workers meet this morning prior to the reassembling of the conference. THE STRIKE EXTENDING. The "Herald" adds that the waterside workers throughout Australia will almost certainly leave work to-morrow. « The Broken Hill miners are also determined to strike if the waterside workers go out. WESTERN MINES. All the Western collieries are idle. The Northern proprietors have decided to pay up all the men's back •money. This will amount to about £20,000. WEST COAST MINES BUSY. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Westport, November 15. The Newcastle strike has caused an increased demand for Westport coal. The Westport Coal Company has orders.for 14,000 tons this week, and is putting on a double shift at the Millerton Mine. The Railway Department is making big demands on the company, and the Union Steamship Company has ordered the week's output of the Stockton Mine. The State's mines Seddonville at and both the Westport and Stockton Coal Companies are advertising for extra men.