LENGTHY BROKEN HILL STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1920, Page 1

LENGTHY BROKEN HILL STRIKE.

ABOUT TO ENTER ON ITS SECOND YEAR. SYDNEY, April 21. A great effort lias been made during the past week to bring to an end the long-drawn-out strike of the Broken Hill miners, which commenced in May, 1919. At first, there seemed good prospects of success, but to-day the miners appear to .have adopted a belligerent and uncouciliatory attitude, and it is likely that the strike will go on into its second year. This must be a record, in length, for strikes in this part of the world. The original dispute was over hours and wages. The miners demanded a 36 hours’ week, and something equally absurd in the matter of wages. They did not get what they asked, and so they downed tools. Since then, the original quarrel has been lost sight of in ■wearisome and interminable argument between the mine proprietors and the union. Every little while during the twelve months each has been issuing long-winded “statements” in reply to the other. The statements, perhaps, were read and understood by the unhappy shareholders in the various companies affected, but few else seem to know what they are all about. It is sufficient that the mines are idle, and the strike is still going on. Broken Hill of course, is the hotbed of revolutionary doctrine, of industrial extremism, and of disloyalty, and nothing reasonable or conciliatory can be expected from the unionists there. " *

The mining section of the Broken Hill population lias been supported all these months by levies upon the mining unions elsewhere. The New- South Wales miners have borne most of the burden—and a pretty heavy burden it has been. These .coalminers are now beginning to show marked signs of restlessness, and when they refuse to pay the levy that keeps their Broken Hill friends in idleness, the Broken Hill strike will be at an end. This levy system, by the way, is being carried to extremes. The printers’ strike in Melbourne is now in its eighth week, and is being carried on by virtue of levies on printing unions in all other parts of Australia.