STRIKE IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16657, 29 September 1917, Page 7

STRIKE IN AUSTRALIA.

ATTITUDE OF COALMINERS. OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. [press ASSOCIATION.]SYDNEY. Sept. 21. The move in the direction of bringing about a resumption of work by the coal miners was advanced a stage further yesterday. It is probable that as a result a conference between Ministers and accredited representatives of the men will take place in the course of the next few days. There appears to be a general air of optimism in official circles, and the opinion is expressed that there will be a resumption of work "inside a fortnight." Mr. Justice Heydon cancelled the registration of the Storeiien and Packers' Union, and deleted the preference clauses from its awards. A proposal to form a new industrial council, "to preserve the interests of unionism," has been made at Newcastle. It fas stated to the Sydney Labour Council that " out of the ashes" of the strike good would arise. Several unions voiced grievances in connection with the resumption of work. The Amalgamated Engineers said that men with long service records had been told that they wero not wanted. The wharf men contend that they have been locked out because they were not taken on yesterday. It was stated on the wharves, however, that the I labour required for yesterday and to-day had previously been engaged. Textile workers objected to the formation of a new union, on the ground that they had not been on strike. At Botany it was (■(intended hv an employer that members of the union had refused to resume, owing to the coal being "black." On September 12, the trial of the arrested strike leaders—E. J. Kavanagh, member < f the Legislative Council and ' spuetary of the Labour Council; A. C. Willis, secretary of the Coal and Shale* Kinpioyees' Federation; C. Thompson, secretary of the \nialgamated Railway and Tramway Service Association; and W. Buckley, a member of the Legislative Assembly, on charges of conspiring to instigate persons employed by the Rail—iv Commissioners, to neglect their duties I as public officers, was commenced. Bucklev was also charged with making seditious : utterances in a public place. i A lame amount of documentary evidence j has been submitted, dealing with the preparations for the strike, and also in ' connection with the anti-conscription cam- : paign.