COALIINERS' STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 5

COALIINERS' STRIKE.

TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA. SERIOUS CRISIS FEARED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Heed. 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 24. Thirteen coal mines are idle in the northern district. The position is grave, and a serious upheaval is threatened. The men's move is believed to be part of a preconcerted plan to force the owners to irrant increases. Although the coal minors at Ceesnook are using the influenza as an excuse to cease work, it is believed that the action was due to State intervention in the coal crisis. Most of the mines in Maitland and I Newcastle are idle. It is expected that I the southern minors will follow 6uit. j The carpenters' strike at Broken Hill j has spread to Port Pirie, where the ! carpenters employed by the Associated I Smelters struck. FEDERATION AND STATE. CLASH OF TWO AUTHORITIES. [from oub own correspondent.] SYDNEY, April 16. A pretty controversy seems, at the moment, to be developing between the I Federal and the New South Wales Governments over the coal question. It seems ; as if certain constitutional questions are at ' last to be 6olved. | There has been a great deal of trouble between the Federal and the State Governments over the administration of the quarantine laws. The Federal authorities made a lamentable muddle of it at the outbreak of the epidemid, and the States, for theiT own protection, had to tike the law into their own hands. The Federal authority, ever since, has been wailing and gnashing its teeth, and it is only now, when the disease is fairly general, that the States affected are handing over some of their powers. Queensland, not infected as yet. still stands aloof. The latest trouble arises out of the coal . position. The miners for a long time have eon crying out for a higher wage and threatening a strike, and at last the Federal Government got owners and I, miners together in conference in Melbourne, and an agreement was reached, subject to ratification by the organisations 1 concerned. Substantially, the miners are to get an increase of about 20 per cent, in wajes, and the consumers are to nay an additional 3s per ton of coal. The , Federal Government agreed to that, pleading that the alternative would be a Wisastrous strike. The New fsouth Wales Government is itself a large consumer of coal, and it says that 3s more per ton will mean another £300,000 for the taxpayers to meet. Further, it has the right to fix prices in this ' State, and it says positively that it will ! not recognise the new agreement. Inj stead, it has set up a Royal _ Commission, which is to inquire forthwith into the ! whole position, and make a recommendation to the Government. Meanwhile the Federal Government has adopted a hostile ' attitude, practically dares the State Gov- > ernment to interfere, and is to-day holding a meeting of owners and in Svdney to finalise the agreement. The miners, abont to get what they want, are ready to fight with the Federal Government against the State. The crisis is really quite acute, and, at the moment,_ it is hard to say what will arise out of it. It is well to remember that the New South Wales Premier, Mr. Holman, is the most determined enemy of the proposal to banish the State Governments, _ which proposal, as taxes grow and grow, is winning annuallv more adherents. It is therefore the yificy of Mr Holman an-} his Ministers to nypoar before the public as champions of public ifcerty against the nefarious 6cheines of ill© Federal GovernI meet. —