MOUNT MORGAN MINE.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XLV, Issue 75, 15 September 1925, Page 5 (Supplement)

MOUNT MORGAN MINE.

SIDNEY, September LI. At a mass meeting of strikers at | Mount .Morgan it was urged that a telegram be sent to (be Home Secretary •Hon. J. Stopford), asking that no police reinforcements be dispatched to Mount Morgan, also advocating that the local police should be requested not to interfere with the miners. As a result of the fires being drawn at the mine the railway station and many other institutions drawing electric power from the mine have been plunged into darkness. Representatives of the engineers, carpenters, enginedrivers, aid electricians reported that their organisations had unanimously decided to stand .behind the. miners. None of their members remained on after 8 o’clock last night. It was stated at a meeting of unionists that Mr Stopford had telephoned that the new basic wages of the State world not apply to Mount Morgan. The President of the Enginedrivers’ Union stated that the President of the Arbitration Court would visit Mount Morgan and hear claims to-day. The Chairman of the Disputes Committee (Mr Lynch) interviewed, said that the basic wage at the mine was £3 18/(5, but when the loss of time, through holidays and continual closing of the mine, was taken into account, the wage would not reach £3 5/ a week throughout rhe year. In no other place in Australia were men asked to accept such a miserable wage. Members of the Strike Committee said that they wanted members of the ■ l:i<r to join them, because in the 1!»21 lock-out the stall' manned the mine ami kept it dry and maintained all property in good order so that the mine could be re-opened at a moment’s notice. The workers realised that, if such a thing were allowed on this occasion tin* lockout would go on indefinitely. As the staff had decided to stand by the company (he committee considered the matter, and the feeling was that since mod,’rate means had been used without suc•ess the only way to meet the-case was by forcing out the men who still worked in the mine. MEN FAVOUR DIKEC’T ACTION. BRISBANE, September 11. A mass meeting of Mount Morgan strikers decided to withdraw theii '.aims from the Arbitration Court. The non stated. that they had finished with he Court, and were now going in foi lirect action. The Home Secretary announced that io had been informed that if the con;•any definitely decided to close the mine he men would accept the position and hose able would seek employment, elsevherc. He had arranged for the direcors of the company to meet the I’renier on 'Tuesday. He added that he had ►eon informed that the Press reports of he trouble were exaggerated.