NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 7

NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

THE POSITION UNCHANGED.

DEMAND FOR A CONFERENCE

WORK MUST BE RESUMED

FIRST. '

NATIONALISATION OF MINES.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. ■ ' ■ (Received November 16, 10 p.m.) Sydney, November 16. In the Legislative Assembly this after- ' noon Mr. McGowen (Leader of the Labour party) asked the Premier (Mr. Wade) if he would use his influence and the influence of his Government with the colliery owners to grant an open conference, and failing such conference, would he then try to obtain the temporary possession of some of the mines, and work them to meet public requirements. If legislation ' was required, he added, he could guarantee the support of the Opposition. Mr. Wade replied that the position was that the employers said the mines were open for the men to resume work. If work was resumed it was to be hoped and expected that the owners''promise of a conference would be given effect to. So long as the men would not return to the mines, they deprived the Government ■ of the opportunity of Helping them. Work should be resumed as the basis for relief. Then a legal tribunal would be available to redress their grievances. He had taken steps to ask the parties to empower him to fix a date on which work might be resumed, concurrently with the opening of the promised conference. . The question of the nationalisation of the coal supply was, he remarked, outside the present controversy, and required more careful thought than had been givfcn to it. If such questions were opened up during a crisis like the present, God help the-prospects of peaceful settlement.

. Mr. McGowen afterward moved the adjournment of the Assembly to discuss the question of the nationalisation of sufficient collieries to supply public requirements.

EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE

IRONWORKS CLOSE DOWN. THREE HUNDRED MEN IDLE. (Received November 17, 12.50 a.m.) Sydney, November 16. The Lithgow ironworks have been closed as a result of the coal strike, 300 men being thrown out of work. , The strike conference to-day discussed Mr. Bowling's proposal to take over and work certain mines, and appointed a committee to interview the owners of the proposed mines and report to the conference. Several more steamers have been laid up. - (Received November 17, 1 a.m) Melbourne, November 16. The Otis engineering works have closed owing to the shortage of coal. The waterside workers are to take a strike ballot to-morrow.

NEW ZEALAND CONGRATULATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Chbistchubch, Tuesday. This morning the following cablegram was sent from Lyttelton to the secretary of the Miners' Federation, Newcastle :— " New Zealand Waterside Federation congratulates Newcastle miners on the stand they have taken.—J. Reed, president, H. Voyce, secretary." SUGGESTED DOMINION LEVY. [BY TELEGRAPH.— r-BKSS ASSOCIATION.] Dttnedin, Tuesday. At a meeting of the Dunedin Operative Bootmakers' Union to-night, it was decided to request the Trades and Labour Council to ask the various trades councils in the Dominion to consider the advisability of striking a levy on the '40,000 affiliated unionists, so as to provide a sum of £1000 per week to be devoted to the Newcastle coalminers' strike fund.