COAL STRIKE DECLARED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 10

COAL STRIKE DECLARED.

NEW SOUTH WALES FIELDS.

MEN TO FINALLY DECIDE.

FEAR OF TROUBLE SPREADING.

jj y Telegraph—Pre a 3 Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. • SYDNEY. Fob. 9.

The Miners' Delegate Board has ordered a general strike of coalminers in New South Wales in consequence of the rejection by tho mineowners of the men's "demands for higher wages and improved working conditions.

This decision has to be ratified by aggregate meetings of the miners. Until these have been held there will be no work in any of the mines at Newcastle or on the Maitland fields.

At the meeting of tho delegates it was decided not to fix dates for the aggregate meetings until the general council in Sydney has been' consulted. - The idea is that the council should fix the dates. 'Although the northern executive has power in the matter its position would be considerably strengthened if it first received the support of the central Council.

v Should the latter oppose the holding of aggregate meetings the board will adhere to its original decision. ' A sinister aspect of the attitude of the

northern executive toward the central council is tho possibility that, with the support of' the latter body", the danger will arise of all the miners in the Commonwealth being called out in support of the northern miners. The dispute will be reviewed by the central council, when a delegate from the northern executive will attend. Tho State Minister of Mines, Mr. J. M. Baddeley, has communicated with the Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, asking for intervention by the. Federal Government. He has urged upon Mr. Bruce tho necessity for convening a conference in order to obtain a mutual agreement, and ior local boards to be created. • Even a complete stoppage : of coal sup-

plies would cause but small immediate inconvenience . in- Sydney.- Sufficient /.Stocks are in hand to enable the industries to carry on for several weeks. - There are now 15,000 miners idle on the northern fields. .

NORTHERN COALFIELD.

ALL THE MINES IDLE.

SHIPPING SHORT OF FUEL.

(Received Feb. 9, 11.49 p.m.) A. and JJ.Z. SYDNEY, Feb. 9. All the mines on the northern coalfields are idle to-day, in accordance with the decision of the Delegates' Board. There is only sufficient coal at New-

castle to supply the ships which are load- • ing to-day.-. After this the position will become serious.' .. '. The Leader of the Federal Labour

•Party, Mr. M. Charlton, and Mr. David iWatkins, Labour member of the Federal "House of Representatives, for Newcastle, have telegraphed to Mr. Bruce asking him •£o .appoint local boards immediately as a means of obviating the- threatened holdop of the :mines. : V