THE NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 6

THE NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

The complete cessation of ; the coal ] output of New South .Wales, which followed closely upon the original Newcastle colliers' strike, is now a thing of the past, the southern and western miners having accepted the advice of the Strike Congress to resume work. The train services of New South Wales are again : running according to the time-table, and all industries excepting those dependent upon Newcastle may soon be able to resume. It; is regrettable that the strike ever commenced, and still more regrettable that it was unwarrantably extended in response to the appeals of the Newcastle leaders. But it is better to retrace false steps than to persist in them, and the Australian situation is undoubtedly relieved by the course now adopted. The Newcastle strike still remains, but it has become a district disturbance, and the collapse of the attempt to precipitate an industrial crisis encourages the hope that peace may _soon be made at Newcastle also.

The steps taken by the New South Wales , Parliament to impose adequate strike penalties in cases where united action has been taken in defiance of the law may strengthen the Arbitration Act. But apart from this there is no good t reason why the Newcastle miners should not return to work, leaving any grievances to be adjudicated upon in a legal manner.