COAL STRIKE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 77, 26 February 1930, Page 7

COAL STRIKE

NEW SOUTH WALES CRISIS, DISPUTE DRAGS ON. EFFECT OF DOLE WITHDRAWAL. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). Received February 26, 10.6 a.m. . SYDNEY. Feb. 26. The Premier, Mr T. It. Bavin, stated to-day that he had written to the Coal Owners’ Federation and the Miners’ Federation, requesting a further conference with or without a Government representative. If they did not agree, then the dole would be stopped irrespective of any decision of tne High Court or steps to secure a new award. A message from the Cessnock coalfields says that the Government’s threat to withdraw the dole is regarded seriously, as many families are solely dependent upon it. On the other hand, the miners’ officials hold out little hope for the success of another conference, especially while any member of the miners’ organisation is in gaol. cost of"DISPUTE. APPEAL FOR FUNDS. MELBOURNE, Feb. 25. An important conference; of representatives of the Australian Council of Trades Unions has begun. The chief subject discussed to-day was the coal dispute in New South Wales and most bitter statements were made by a section of the militants against the Federal Labour Government’s failure to use the military forces against the police at Rothbury. Mr H. Gibson, General Secretary of the Mining Engine-drivers’ Association, was of the opinion that the miners should make the best terms possible with the owners for resumption before the miners themselves became demoralised. He could see only one result to the present conflict. Mr Davies, the miners’ president, said that the special appeal for funds mado recently resulted in £47,000 — mostly from New Zealand and Western Australian miners. The cost of the dispute to date to the Miners’ Federation was over £300,000.