TROUBLES IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19321, 7 May 1926, Page 12

TROUBLES IN AUSTRALIA.

COLLIERY ENGINEERS. CRITICAL STAGE REACHED. MEN MAY CEASE WORK. ALL THE MINES AFFECTED. / UNPROMISING OUTLOOK.

, By Telegraph—ProßS Association—CopyriKht. (Received 11.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, May 6. Unless the/unexpected happens quickly there will bo a general cessation of work on Saturday in all tlie collieries in Now South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It is now expected that final notices will bo issued to-day by the Engineers Association to brand) secretaries, informing them that the two days' conference held in Sydney proved fruitless. The notices instruct the executives that ar. the 14 days' notice ends on Saturday all members of the association engaged in the mines - will cease work on completion of the night shifts on that date, and they are requested to leave everything in proper order. The notice adds that if successful intervention happens before the expiry of the notice the executives will be informed. The Minister of Labour, Mr. J. M. liaddelev, is continuing his efforts to Jeclire a settlement, lie had an interview to day. with representatives of the owners and the engineers but so far it was apparently fruitless. If the engineers cease work over 3000 miners will 'be rendered idle. A Cabinet meeting was held to-day without the Premier, Mr. J. I. Lang, who is absent assisting in the Queensland election campaign. It is understood that the Ministers take the view that as both sides in both the 44-hours week anal the mining d.sptites arc adamant there is small chance of settlements being reached, ' and that as all States are involved the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, should take steps to end the troubles. The Minister of Labour stated to-night / that he had written to both parties to the collieries' dispute informing them of the course the Government proposed to take in view of the 'grave position and expressing the "hope that they would give favourable ■ consideration to the communication, lie declined to disclose the Governme nt s proposal . __—- DISPUTE' OYER HOUES. LABOUR COUNCIL'S ACTION. I ARBITRATION COURT RULING. JL and N.Z. SYDNEY. May 5. Tho announcement made by Mr. J. M. Baddeley, Minister of Labour, that the New South Wales Government would see that the wives and families of men who are on in connection with the 44 hours week dispute did not starve was received with jubilation in union circles. In rnanv cases individual unions ha"s e made provision for strike pay. The number of names on out-of-work books is increasing daily. The Labour Council has taken charge of tho strike on behalf of tho unions. , Several offers of financial assistance have I - been received from other States. j I Extremists who have been taking part in ' tho strike are'said to be endeavouring to inaugurate irritation tactics as a protest against the action of the employers. They advocate that unionists engaged in as many industries as possible should adopt I pin-prick measures and should take ge.tier- j • ally any retaliatory measures open to j them. ' In a statement made in the Federal i Arbitration Court in Melbourne, Deputy- j j President, sir John Quick, expressed grave j doubts whether the Court as at present j constituted, and in view of the existing i legal and po/itical circumstances, had j .power to deal with the question of the 44 ! hours week at all. He refused to refer a case to the Full j Court for, consideration, as he held tha.t it ] would be a waste of time on his part to j do so. He directed the case to be referred ; to the new Arbitration Court when it was : established. Sir John said that in industries generally j which came within the scope of Common- j wealth awards the Court had power only to settle industrial disputes extending ! beyond the limits of one State. In specific | cases which .were brought before it tho Court could, give a decision declaring what ! should be the hours of any industry or branch of industry, but it could not lay down a rule of.general application. Jt is understood that efforts arc being I made to extend the dispute to Victoria. A special delegate from the Disputes Committee left Sydney to-night to place j ' the position before representatives of the j Federal unions. j