MINERS TURN DOWN STRIKE PROPOSAL

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1936, Page 7

MINERS TURN DOWN STRIKE PROPOSAL

Big Majorities Against Seamen

WANGANELLA SAILING CANCELLED ATTACK ON VOLUNTEERS AT SYDNEY C United Press Association.-by Electric Telegraph. — Copyright.} (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 8. fpHE miners, at aggregate meetings on 'the coalfields today, decided, in most cases by huge ihajorities, not to strike in support of the seamen, as recommended by the joint consultative council.

The majorities against a strike were as follows: —Kurri, 758 to 42; Lithgow, 684 to 62; Spear’s Point, 675 to 25; Wollongong, 600 to 100; Cessnock, 874 to 146.

At Wonthaggi, Victoria, the men voted 370 to 44 in favour of a strike. The only other field to support a strike was Helensburgh, where the total vote was 42 and favoured the council’s recommendation by 28 to 14. The final result of the vote was 5780 vote to 1167 against strike iQ support of the seamen. Complete Surprise. The crushing defeat of the militants came as a complete surprise in trade union circles, and trade union leaders now consider the collapse of the seamen’s strike inevitable. The secretary of the Sydney Seamen’s Strike Committee, Mr J, Keenan, however, said, “while naturally disappointed at the result of the aggregate meeting, the seamen will fight on to the bitter end.’’ The Marama has sailed for Bluff. At Melbourne the seamen' at a mass meeting decided to give effect to the Sydney men’s decision to call out all ships manned by unionists. Volunteers Attacked. The proposed departure of the Wanganella for New Zealand on Saturday has been cancelled. The Hud-dart-Parker Company states that instructions to this effect have been received, no reason being given. It had been anticipated that a crew would be obtained in time.

Four volunteer seamen were attacked near the Sydney waterfront today by about 25 men, but they escaped without serious injury. After having been held up for weeks, the passenger steamer Morinda sailed today for Lord Howe Island.