STRIKERS SENTENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14292, 11 February 1910, Page 5

STRIKERS SENTENCED.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS' GAOL.

FIVE MORE DEALf WITH.

BOWLING'S LONG TERM.

TWO AND A-HALF YEARS.

By Telegraph—Press Association.—

Sydney, February 10. The hearing of the conspiracy charges against the remaining strike leaders concluded to-day,, Bowling, Brennan, Burns, Lewis, and Gray being found guilty. Each was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, Bowling's sentence to be cumulative on hie previous on© of 12 months.

(Received February 11. 1 a.m.}

Sidney, February 10.

The judge, in summing up, said It was no defence for the accused ;to say that they were in the service of the Miners' Federation and as servants were carrying out the federation's orders. The jury recommended all to mercy on the ground of their previous good characters.

Each made statements claiming innocence, as they wore unaware that they were committing breaches of the law. Bowling declared that the law as it stood made the carrying out of the duties of an officer of the union impossible and unsafe. Very few unionists knew what the law meant. ■ He did not. If this was what was done in a free country, he wished to go to Siberia or some other, country where they did not talk about freedom.

Bronnan doubted if , any . men in future •would be willing to pay the price of maintaining the position of the working men in the country. Unionists would be like sheep without shepherds.

Burns declared,he had always advised non-acceptance of the Industrial Disputes Act, and would do. so «6 long as he lived, because it was incapable of governing the work of miners.

Lewis said that this was the end of men who interested themselves on behalf of the unions in the State. The unions would become secret societies.

The Judge, in passing sentence, said each knew he was breaking the law, and had done so deliberately. As to no one accepting office in a union in future, all such men had to do was to obey the law, and then they would be perfectly safe. Hi. could not understand how accused could make the Claim that by throwing out many thousands of . workers they were acting for the (benefit of humanity. He had taken the recommendation to mercy into yarding' the senIN sight.

PARTIES COMING TOGETHER.

REMEDY OF GRIEVANCES,

SUBMISSION TO WAGES BOARD. \

(Received February 10,' 10.30 p.m.)

Sydney, February JO. .- . The sitting of the Newcastle Wages Board was continued to-day, . when .Mr. Charlton, M.L.A., renewed his application for an adjournment till Wednesday. _ - Mr. Charlton stated that the miners delegates had authorised him to prepare a case for presentation to the Board in answer to the proprietors' claims, and he wanted the adjournment lin order to prepare the case. .• ..As showing the strong desire for a satisfactory settlement of the trouble, he said the Delegate Board had taken the advice given yesterday and appointed five of. its members, along with the executive officers, to confer with the proprietors, and they were prepared to meet during the afternoon with a view to reducing their claims , and paving the way for an early settlement. The men wanted to reach a solution of the trouble, and had fixed a day for resumption. He believed'if the parties once got together a settlement would be .reached in a short time, and work would probably be resumed

next . week. V • The president of the "Wages Board declined to grant the application on the ground that no assurance had been given that the men were going to submit their claims on Wednesday. Mr.; Charlton thereupon announced that he must retire from the case, and walked out of Court.

Later in the day. Mr. Charlton returned to Court and stated that the Delegate Board had meanwhile met and resolved that he again renew his application for an adjournment. They realised the necessity for an early settlement, and though >he could give no guarantee he Was fully prepared to cay that if the request were granted it would bring about a resumption of work at a very early date. The Delegate Board had also desired him to ask Judge Scholes (president of the Wages Board) whether he could see his way, in the capacity of a citizen, to meet the miners' representatives. It was their desire to bring about a settlement. Judge" Scholes said he considered Mr. Charlton must have strong reasons for pressing the application for an adjournment. >, He would,, therefore, now grant it for two reasons—firstly, in . the hope of the- men submitting their case to the Board; secondly, to secure a . settlement as soon, as possible. He also agreed to the request to meet the miners' representatives. The Board adjourned till Wednesday, and-Judge, Scholes proceeded to the Trades Hall to confer with the miners' advisory board.