AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1858, 6 September 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE MINING DISASTER

REMEDIES PROPOSED

(Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, Sept. 5

The situation, at Gessnock is gloomy and depressing following Saturday's disaster. Many theories are circulating among the miners respecting the catastrophe, one being that the horses had to be whipped into the mines on Saturday as their instinct intimated danger. The Hon. Mr Estell, ex-Minister for Mines, speaking in the Legislative Council, said that mine-owners should be compelled to tunnel through to the far end of the leases, from where the coal should be cut and work hack. The present system' was entirely wrong, as when the coal was cut away, the debris formed gases and also tended to cut off the retreat of the men in the event of their attempting escape.

PREMIER OF VICTORIA RESIGNS

(Press Association .—Copyright.) (Received 10.45 a.m.) Melbourne, Sept. 5. Mr Lawson has resigned the Premiership. The Governor sent for Messrs Prendergast and Allen, and subsequently recommissioned Mr Lawson to carry on. Messrs Lawson and Allen are now constituting a composite Minstry.

SUCCESSFUL BONUS SYSTEM %

(Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m.)

The employees in the State quarries at Kiama received their first bonus last week for the year's operations. On the bonus system spawlers received £23 and other employees proportionate amounts. The profits totalled £27,000 for the year.