THE COLLIERY CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14231, 30 November 1909, Page 5

THE COLLIERY CRISIS.

PEACEMAKERS' EFFORTS.

EFFECTS OF THE TROUBLE.

GENERAL STRIKE VETOED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—

Sydney, November 29.. Through the medium of Dr. . Nash, a member of the Legislative Council, the northern colliery proprietors are to meet Mr. Peter Bowling, the strike leader, today. ';• .' v.-ivv-.r

The mediator is also trying to bring the southern proprietors and men together.

The Parliamentary Labour party holds a caucus to-morrow to consider the general position. Arrangements have been made for the Ebb Vale mine to commence working to-day under Mr. Bowling's scheme. • '..- .','■ •

. A cable has been received from the English Miners' Federation in answer to the appeal of the strike congress forfunds stating, that the appeal would be considered at next meeting.

The train and tram services were today reduced by about one-third.v

Eight of the North Coast Company's steamers are laid up.

:. The' Sydney Morning Herald is responsible for a statement that the strike congress on Friday took a vote on the question of calling a general strike, and that the vote was lost.

STRIKERS' COLLIERY SCHEME. RAILWAYS REFUSE TO HAUL THE ; ■_ COAL. (Received November; 30, 1 a.m.). ; Sydney, November 29. The Ebbw Vale Colliery commenced working to-day. When requested to haul coal, the Railway Department declined, other shipping agents* requests being similarly treated. Negotiations with the Chief Commkeioner on. the matter are proceeding. - ,- .. .. ' . The Colonial Sugar Company's steamer Fiona, with a cargo of 6000 tons of coal, has been recalled from Fiji, and returned to Sydney to-day. The coal will be used at the company's works at Pyrmont. The Mayor of Newcastle communicated with the chairman of tho northern proprietors and Mr. Hughes, Urging them to confer with a view to settlement, suggesting as a possible basis of agreement, and in view of the dire distress and proximity of Christmas, that the men resume work upon certain concessions, pending a, finding mutually approved by the Court of Arbitration. The Mayor expresses the belief that the miners as a whole are anxious for a peaceful settlement, and suggests that certain concessions having been made to the. miners, they pledge themselves to work a definite , period without striking. ■

HOPES OF SETTLEMENT.

NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS. (Received November 30, 1 a.m.)

; Sydney, November 29. The strike congress considered the '■'Mayor of Newcastle's suggestion, and empowered Mr. Hughes to confer with Mr. Learmonth, chairman of the Northern' Proprietors' Association. >

Judging by to-day*6 developments the effects of Dr. Nash's mediation are . probably overestimated. Dr. Nash states that he conferred with Mr. Bowling several times, and hoped that something would be arranged to bring the lamentable condition of affairs to a termination, but knew nothing about the results of Mr. Bowling's meeting with % the proprietors to-day., _ ' . -, ■ • ■'

It 6eems that Mr. , Bowling saw one of the leading proprietors at Newcastle today, and he subsequently stated that the interview had reference to the complaint of some .employers that the Employees' Federation had broken their compact in calling out the engineers.