12,000 MEN STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6970, 9 November 1909, Page 5

12,000 MEN STRIKE

NEWCASTLE MINES IDLE SUDDEN STOPPAGE TAKES ALL BY SURPRISE. COAL STOCKS SHORT. By Telssrapli—Presa Association—Copyright SYDNEY', November 8. Every coal-mine in the northern district is deserted, twelve thousand men having left work. The suddenness of the strike is attributed to t.ho fact that coal-owners’ stocks wore low. It is believed that tire railways have enough coal for two months. The Gas Company has a month’s supply, and the ferry companies six weeks’. The intcr-State shipping companies appear to have practically no stocks. The proprietors believe that the strike will last until after Christmas. The general public is wondering to what the upheaval is due. Many miners themselves scarcely know what they are out for. Grievances they have always had, but no specific demands have lately been made on the proprietors. LISTING THE GRIEVANCES MEETING OF MINERS TO BE HELD TO-DAY. (Received November 9, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 8. The southern- and western miners continue working, but their delegates will attend a conference of the three districts to-morrow. The coal-lumpers and wharf labourers will also meet on Tuesday. The northern mines to-day appointed a. sub-committee.to draw up a list of the grievances on which they have struck. The fact is, it is said, that if the proprietors were to say to the men tonight: “What are you fighting for? Tell us specifically, and wo will concede it?” the men would have to postpone their answer until they had drawn up this list. Several steamers, 'including the Waitemata, have paid off their crews and laid up. Firewood has already advanced 50 per cent, in price. ■ SECRETARY'S STATEMENT MEN SUFFER “INDIGNITY AFTER INDIGNITY.” SYDNEY, November 8. Mr Peter Bowling, the miners’ secretary, speaking at a lodge meeting, said that indignity after indignity had been thrust upon members of the federation right throughout the district. He had been told by the proprietors that they would just os soon fight them ns not. The men had borne these indignities until they could stand them no longer. They were compelled to oavel (draw for working places) with “blacklegs,” and the “blacklegs” had got work. They had stood this for twelve months. The proprietors tried to force them to fight, continued the secretary, but now they were ready to fight, and they would beat them. The decision they had come to was a dramatic one, hut it was the only course left open. According to the advices of the executive, stocks-of ooal were lower than at the time of the last strike. The miners had referred their claims to a Royal . Commission, said the speaker, and a one-eyed Judge had given a decision against them, against the weight of evidence. Ho mentioned that to show how much justice they could get from a class-ridden Judge. If ever there was a time to fighf, this was the time.

There is no sign of the trouble in tho New South Wales mines spreading to New Zealand. The Union Steamship Company and Huddart Parker Line will probably follow the plan adopted during previous strikes at Newcastle, and coal their vessels at Wellington for the round trip between New Zealand and Australian ports. In the case of the Maheno, running between- Sydney and Auckland, coal supplies will be obtained at the latter port. During the last general strike at Newcastle the inter-colonial passenger fares were increased to defray the extra cost of coaling the steamers in New Zealand. A considerable quantity of coal is brought to New Zealand every month for the Railway Department, and for private contracts. The suspension of operations at Newcastle for any length of time will, in these cases, entail a good deal of inconvenience.