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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 4

The coal mine /strikes In New South Wales have been disastrous to the whole Of Australia, and it id to be regretted that the difficulty is not yet done with. We are informed by cable that' four . associated collieries in the Southern Districts have accepted the reduction in hewing rates; out the miners in the South Bulli, Bellambi, and Mount Kembla mines, refusing to agree to the reduction, the proprietors have decided to shutdown for a couple of months. The returns of the Newcastle coal trade for the past year show a falling off in the export of 310j000 tons as compared with the previous year. The coal strike of 1890 was a serious blow to the export coal trade of New South Wales ; for, owing to the stoppage of production, and the apprehension created, the mines have never recovered the place they occupied. The coal measures of New South Wales are practically inexhaustible, In 1823 only 600 tons were raised ; during 1891, 4,037,929 tons were obtained, valued at £1,742,795. It is computed that the coal area of the colony approximates to 23.950 square miles. At the great strike there was no question of hewing rates. The miners struck workin sympathy withthemen involved in the shipping dispute. But very greatly through that strike the trade of New South Wales has received such a shock that it is not now a question of hewing rates, but whether the mines shall work at aIL Coal mines in various parts of the world were opened, and now the owners at Newcastle and other parte of New South Wales find that if they are to recover the trade they must reduce prices, and consequently rates of labour. Another complication ,has arisen between Victoria and New South Wales. Mines have been opened at Gippsland, in the former colony, and these could continue in work so long as high rates were maintained at Newcastle. . But with a lower rate they will have no chance. The Victorian Government has pledged itself to support the Gippsland- mines, but if they do so it will amount to paying three or four shillings a ton more than a better coal can be obtained for. It is even contended in Victoria that the Governmen should put an import duty on coal so as to keep out the produce of New South Wales. But this would mean that every ironfounder, every manufacturer, in Victoria would be handicapped to a disastrous extent, while the railway rates would have to be raised to meet the increased cost of working. The strikes of coal miners in Australia and in England have been very disastrous affairs indeed.