First Definite Signs Of Weakening By Miners' Federation

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1949, Page 5

First Definite Signs Of Weakening By Miners' Federation

SYDNEY, Mon. (1 p.m.).—The return of miners on the Collie field, in West Australia, means that 10,000 people will get their jobs back early this week. Transport in West Australia will recommence as soon as coal being dug today is available, and electric power will be turned on again in Perth this afternoon. In Queensland the consequences of .the strike have been lessened by the steadily increasing total of coal being produced from 10 mines in the Rothbury area.

The position in South Australia has eased considerably due t:o heavy production from the Leigh Creek open-cut mines. The only two states now. badly affected by the strike are New South Wales and Victoria.

In New South Wales the position has been improved by a series of strong Government actions, culminating in Mr Chi (ley’s broadcast address to miners, the burden of which was: “Either you forsake the law of the jungle, which is the Communists’ creed, and return to proper and lawful arbitration authority, or you ally yourselves with a world-wide movement which seeks to wreck the democratic way of life.” The removal of 6000 tons of coal at Grass, in the South Maitland area, has already begun, and earth-moving equipment ■is assembling at open-cut mines, which are already being cleared for praduction. The I-radcr of the New South Wales Opposition (Mr V. H. Treatt) places national income lost at £50,000,000. REQUEST FOR CONFERENCE The first definite sign of weakening in the attitude of the Miners' Federation came in the form of a request by miners’ leaders for the Australian Council of Trades Unions tc corwene a conference to consider a settlement. Previous conferences called by the council have proved abortive because of the uncompromising attitude of the miners.

The president of the Australian Council of Trades Unions (Mr .P. J. Clarke) said the miners had suggested that representatives of the Federal Government, mine owners, Coal Mining Unions Council, Joint Coal Board and Australian Council of Trades Unions should attend the conference. The Sydney Daily Telegraph political correspondent in Canberra says that neither the New South Wales nor Federal Governments is prepared to take part in such a conference, and that the only solution is for the miners to return to arbitration. RESOLUTION SHAKEN Observers say that recent developments, including the gaoling of leaders, the indifference of the miners to the coal lift and increasing support for the Australian Labour campaign in the coalfields, have shaken the resolution of the militants.

Army convoys are pouring into the coalfields as the Governments continue with their plans of working open-cut mines with military labour, but even this has not roused the miners to active opposition. Many open-cut mines which have not previously produced have been stripped to The coal face by heavy machinery and the coal is ready to be lifted. REDS PELTED A series of disturbances at meetings in various parts of New South Wales signified a hardening of public opinion against the miners. At Birdwood Park, Newcastle, Communist speakers were pelted with tomatoes and fireworks when they referred to Labour Party supporters as scabs and strike-oreakers v Soon after the Communist meeting started about 1600 people surged away from the Communist speakers to listen to Labour Party men nearby. They then came back and despite a cordon formed by 40 police between the two factions, many fights broke out. A Communist truck was driven hastily away, leaving behind a group of Communists, two of whom were knocked out. RUNNING FIGHTS Running fights continued as the Communists withdrew but the police were able to protect the Communists from serious harm. Labour Party supporters then returned to their meeting and carried resolutions supporting Government action. After touring the coalfields, the Federal president of the Liberal Party (Mr R. G. Casey) said: “I do not think there will be an end to this strike until the miners wake up to this scarlet fever their leaders are spreading. "Some of them seem to have wakened up. but I am afraid the rank and file are still being led by the nose by the Communists.”