MINERS' STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 16

MINERS' STRIKE

BANKS 0E THE IDLE INCREASE IN AUSTRALIA ENGINE-DRIVERS AND FIREMEN TWELVE SHIPS NOW LAID UP By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 17, 12.20 a.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 10 The engine-drivers and firemen have decided to withdraw from the northern mines for the period of the coal strike. It is expected that n similar decision will be made 011 other field's. Two more ships wore laid up yesterday because of the coal strike, bringing the number of. idle vessels in Sydney harbour to 12, five o! which are inter-State freighters, the others being coastal cblliers. The coal-miners' officials appear to have encountered their first setback upon learning to-day that the wholesale houses intend to withhold credit from retailers in the strike areas. The Miners' Federation had arranged with the retail stores for the acceptance of coupons in payment ior provisions for the strikers' families. Thcso coupons were to have been redeemed by the Miners' Federation during tho currency of the strike. _ The first strike relief payment 111 New South Wales, totalling about £40,000, is due in three weeks time. It is expected that tho retailers will refuse to accept the coupons when the time arrives in view of the attitude of the wholesale merchants, thus creating a difficult situation both for the miners and the local storekeepers. BOTH SIDES PREPARED LONG EIGHT POSSIBLE OWNERS' ATTITUDE FIRM ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE Preparations have been made by both sides in tho coal-mines dispute for a long fight, wrote the Sydney correspondent of the Herald on September 9. The genesis of the present trouble goes back at least to last year, when the Miners' Federation claimed various increases in wage rates. A strike seemed to be certain, but the owners met the union in conference, and an agreement, was arrived at. The federation officials were criticised hy the miners for not persisting with their claim for a reduction of hours and for pensions for agod miners, lacing mass meetings, the officials said the other claims had not been thrown into the wastepaper basket. They made good their statement by presenting another list of claims. The owners argued—and still argue—that last year's agreement bound the miners to then prevailing conditions for another two years, and they were supported in this by a State Arbitration Court judgment One result of all tho talk during the last six weeks is that the miners enter the strike with their feves open. They were told from the beginning that the owners would not budge. The ultimatum served on tho owners and the Federal and State Governments expired without evidence of a break in the owners original attitude. Now the nation is faced with a strike that must disorganise industry and commerce. There are about 23,000 coal mine workers in Australia and nearly 90 per cent of them are members of the Miners' Federation. About 80 per cent of the mine workers are employed in New South Wales. Elaborate relief plans for the strikers have been prepared. From a careful check made by officials of the federation, mine leaders considered that stocks of coal were much less than the quantities claimed by executives controlling the essential services. "We consider that we can maintain ourselves longer than the country can do without coal," Mr. Orr said. Large consumers of coal, such as the Sydney electricity authority, the gas companies, shipping companies, and large manufacturing companies, have been preparing for the trouble, and they have from two to three months' normal supplies on hand. The miners say consumers will need • more than that unless developments they desire occur.