GENERAL STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 14

GENERAL STRIKE

PLANS OF MINERS AUSTRALIAN COLLIERIES FIVE MAIN DEMANDS RANK AND FILE TO DECIDE [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, August 5 Plans for a general strike of miners throughout Australia, unless demands for improved working conditions arc conceded within a fortnight, were disclosed at the national convention of the Miners' Federation, which began its sittings in Sydney yesterday. The actual decision on tho strike issue will be made by the rank and file at "pit-head meetings. It was revealed that in four or five days the Federal Government, most of the State Governments, and colliery proprietors will be served with a log of claims and given two weeks in which to offer an agreement acceptable to the federation, and that mass meetings of miners will be held 011 all fields at the end of a fortnight to consider replies received by the federation. It was claimed at the convention that the kindred unions and the trades union movement in the various States were behind the miners. Official Statement of Claims The claims of the miners are officially set out as follows: — (1) A 30-hour week of five days, with no reduction in pay. (2) That the Goal Mines Regulation Acts in various States should be made uniform and brought up to date. (3) That all miners on reaching the age of 60 should be pensioned off at £2 a week, and that the necessary finance should be raised by a levy of 3d a ton on the price of coal. (4) Fourteen days' annual holiday on full pay. (5) That mine workers should be paid weekly. It is understood that the .strike plans were included in a number of recommendations submitted to the convention by executive officers. Their acceptance by the convention is considered to be certain. Preparations for Struggle The first session of tho convention was devoted yesterday afternoon to a report 011 organisation by the general secretary, Mr. W. Orr. He outlined in detail the steps taken by the central executive to prepare the mine workers for a struggle which, he said, had been "forced upon them by tho relusal of the Governments and tho owners to alter existing conditions in tho mines." Mr. Orr said that the trades unions, including the Australasian and New Zealand Council" of Trade Unions, had pledged support. Clergymen of all denominations had expressed sympathy, and various local government bodies, Chambers of Commerce, and Rotary Clubs had been interviewed. It was stated that the maritime and other mining unions had agreed to recommend the fullest possible support. About 40 delegates from all parts of Australia are attending the convention. The Collie miners in Western Australia and the New Zealand miners were represented. Tho deliberations were in camera. Warnings by Men's Leaders Speaking at a memorial service for victims of recent mining fatalities, held before the opening of the convention, the president of the Miners' Federation, Mr. C. Nelson, said: "We are faciug the most momentous issue for years. If the powers that be indicate that discussions on our claims will not be the order of the day, wo will go into the coalfields and stage the most historic strike the industry has known. "Modern coal production has reached and passed tho needs of civilisation, and production by Australian miners is greater than in any other country, and we demand a shorter working 1 week. The industry must bo reorganised in the interests of the community. Chaos in the industry must cease. The miners demand that." Mr. Nelson said oversea countries had already introduced pension schemes for miners. Royalties drawn by the State should be spent in the industry and not to stabilise the Budget, he said. Tlie colliery "proprietors had held up' a safety bill which had taken three years to prepare. He hoped that the coal owners would adopt a reasonable attitude and that Federal and State Governments would do their share. Tho director of the Minern' Propaganda Bureau, Mr/ E. Ross, .accused the State Government with criminal neglect. He said there had been 73 deaths last year. The Government had failed to provide for the safety of mine workers and had been callously indifferent to the ever-mounting toll of deaths and disease. In the mines of Australia last year one miner in fewer than every 250 employed had died. . Question of Financing Strike The miners' leaders are of the opinion that all colliery employees could remain on strike for a period long enough to bring about a shortage sf coal so acute that national industrial dislocation would necessitate a compromise settlement which would give the miners some of their demands. On the other hand, it is stated that Australia's major coal-using industries oould with rationing carry on with reserve coal supplies for periods ranging from 11 or 12 weeks to—in tho of the iron and steel industry—--12 months or •more. So far as is known the financial relources available to the Miners' Feelerition would not enable 20.000 strikers :o be fed for more than about five or iix weeks. The federation 'has been argely unsuccessful in its efforts to )btaiii long-term credit to finance the itrike. If all Australian collieries were die tho federation would be without he sourco of revenue with which-it inances sectional strikes—levies on netnbers who are still working. Other inions would probably have heavy obli;ations of their own, as members would Jo thrown out of work because of a hortago of coal in industry. The owners claim that their refusal 0 consider any variation of the existng agreement is vital to the industry, iliey point, out that the Miners' Feelerition has declared itself against obtainng awards from Arbitration Courts, md that it prefers instead to negotiate agreements directly with tho >wners themselves. In such circumstances, i 110 owners claim, reasonable iffieiency in tho industry is impossible unless the federation abides by the igreements loyally.

A cablegram published yesterday stated: The Government of Now South Wales is prepared to appoint a tribunal consisting of a judge of Supreme Court status and two others representing employers and employees, to inquire into the sale working of the coal mines. The Premier, Mr. B. S. Stevens, made this announcement when asked to define the Government's attitude toward the claims of the Miners' Federation.

Delegates to tho coal convention yesterday debated the Premier's offer to appoint a tribunal and referred it to the central executive of the Miners' Federation for a full report.