THE MINERS STRIKE.

Northern Advocate, 1 September 1888, Page 4

THE MINERS STRIKE.

Auckland, Tuesday. At Newcastle, New South Wales, on Friday, a ballott of the miners was taken to decide whether a week's extension of time should be granted to the masters for further negotiations, and the question, was determined in the negative. Thereupon the miners belonging to the different societies were instructed to bring out their tools at the close of their day's work. It is reported here that three thousand English miners have been cabled for. All the collieries ceased work at four o'clock on Friday afternoon. Great excitement prevails in the district. Everything is settling down quietly at the mines. The men cheered lustily as they went out on strike. In Sydney it was not at first anticipated that there would be a coal famine in consequence of the strike, although the price of coal must increase. As showing the pay the men received a fortnightly pay-sheet picked out at random gives the highest amount earned at 22/ per day per man, and the lowest amount earned at 9/6. I Several vessels which were to load at Newcastle are already laid up owing to the strike. In Melbourne great regret is generally expressed at the coal strike. The officers and crews of two colliers have already received notice that their services will be no longer required, and other colliers will be laid up shortly. In Adelaide the coal stocks have been largely increased during the past two weeks in anticipation of the strike, and it is hoped that the city will be able to tide over the difficulty. The coal merchants have suspended all contracts for the supply of coal, and the prico has been raised. A number of factories intend to suspend operations during the strike, owing to the increased cost of working through the rise in the price of coal, and the hands will be discharged. The Railway Department secured several thousand tons of coal, and also obtained large supplies of wood. On Friday at Sydney, Sir Henry Parkes, addressing a meeting, regretted that there appeared to be every chance of a strike among the coal-miners ; and he expressed the opinion that the fault lay as much with the masters as the men. The former, he considered, had acted unwisely, and without tact or discrimination, and should have taken every step to prevent a strike consistent with dignity. The labour cliflELenlties afforded splendid evidence that men in the colonies were in a much better I position than their fellow-workmen in \ other parts of the world, when they ft could afford on such trifling pretences, Jk to set defiance to capital. m On Saturday the Trade and Labour I Councils of Melbourne and Adelaide B decided to assist the miners. B The strike is expected to last from to five months. ; At Newcastle four hundred wharf hands |Bvere paid off in consequence of the strike. A partial paralysis of trade has albeen experienced. HA^he tonnage awaiting coal at NewHSr^ c amounts to 70,000 tons. Hut is believed that another result of Hh^k miners' strike will be the laying up of the coastal shipping, and throwing of 700 seamen out of Melbourne, the Gas Company, in of a scarcity of coal, have j^^^^fted the gas pressure by one-half. engineer to the Sydney Gas ComI^^HjHis of opinion that they cannot n the present gas supply for H^^^Bhan a month. The Gas Company private consumers to from using gas, in order to places provided with light. to strengthen the hands of H^H^^^rs in their strike, the Seamen's decided to withdraw the H^^H|Bconnection with the Maritime difficulty, and also to |^^H^^Hker month on members of the been received by cable ■BflJI^K offering to land coal in J^^H^^HHk" steamers at 25/ per ton. strike lasts any length of will be most serious to r °* tradesmen in Australia. Premier of Victoria, has Company of New H^^^^B^^^Bf ss i° n to coal their New |^I^^^^|Hb_ steamer in New Zealand "of the Newcastle