N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1930, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

FEDERAL MINISTRY REJECTION

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY February 15

Rumours are current in Newcastle that it be reopens tbe Richmond main colliery, John Borwu will ask for a subsidy of two shillings a ton.

The Hon. G. G. Theodore, Federal Treasurer, in his reply, on behalf of the Federal Government', to the Sydney Labour Conference criticism and direction, said: “The Government wi.ll submit to no outside dictation, but it will act, upon its own judgment and responsibility. The Government has no power arbitrally to take over coal mines, nor have we any warrant for sending Commonwealth troops to tick coalfields. We already have done everything which our extremely limited powers will permit us, to bring about a settlement in the coal dispute We are still in close contact with the unions concerned, in the hope of finding a solution.”

The New South Wales Federal Labour members of Parliament sat late in secret conclave with the Australian Labour Party Executive. The proceedings, it is understood, were marked with extreme bitterness. The Ministers insisted that the meeting be removed from the Trudes Hall to the Commonwealth offices, and the Lamour Daily representative be excluded, Each member of the Federal Party received a typed copy of the Labour Conference resolutions, requiring the Government to commandeer certain mines, disband and disarm, the coalfields police, prosecute tho coal owners and New South Wales members of the Cabinet, and give basic wage relief to all miners affected by tbe stoppage. The members were also informed of another resolution requiring the Executive to compel them to carry out “ the. spirit and letter of the resolutions.” War was declared when Federal members asked the Executive to outline how the demands were to be given effect. Mr James, member for the Hunter coalfields electorate, repeated the attack he made on Mr Scullin and Mr Theodore in the House, and challenged his colleagues to move in caucus for his expulsion. He declared that, the Prime Minister and Treasurer discouraged the miners from creating an Inter-State strike., and let them down by appointing Mr Hibble instead •of Mr Willis to sit on the tribunal. T-Te added : “ Mr Willis; would have had his responsibilities to. the movement. Hibble had none.” Here Mr Curtain (secretary of the conference) blots out the discussion. ..i