NEWCASTLE STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 January 1910, Page 5

NEWCASTLE STRIKE

SOUTHERN BALLOT WAGES BOARD MEMBER IN DISFAVOUR. SYDNEY, January) 11. Tho ballot of tho Southern miners on the question of resuming work commences to-day. Some of tho miners are making preparations for a start in the event of tho decision proving favourable. The Miners’ Delegate Board at Newcastle lias decided to ask Mr Paterson to show cause why he should not bo expelled from the federation for accepting a seat on the Oumpulsory Wages Board. ANOTHER ADJOURNMENT THE SOUTH COAST MEETINGS. (Received January 11, 9.35' p.m.) SYDNEY, January 11. When the Industrial Court met today to hear the charges against Messrs Peter Bowling, D. Huttocn, James Butler, and William O’Conaior, of taking part in- strike meetings on the South Coast some days ago, Mr Bowling obtained an adjournment to Monday nest. The application was made on the ground that owing to work in connection with preparing the miners’ ballots the defendants had not had time to prepare their case, GROUNDS OF THE PROSECUTION. This is the first case under the Industrial Disputes Amendment Act passed last month,, and leave to prosecute was given by Judge Heydon on January 4th. Mr Blacket (instructed by the Crown Solicitor, Mr J.. V. Tillett) appeared, for Detective Bradley, and made application, under . section 48, to take proceedings in regard to certain offences under section 428 b against the four persons named. In an affidavit. Detective Bradley, who stated that ho had been instructed by Mr Garland, Solicitor-General, to apply for this leave to prosecute, explained that he had read what purported to be a report by Constable John Gill, of Balgownio, and believed that two meeting's of .more than two persons were assembled at Bulli and Balgownio on December 29th, for the purpose of “managing, directing, controlling, and aiding in the continuance of tho strike," and that Peter Bowling, D. Hutton, James Butler, and William O'Connor tools: part in each of these meetings. He had also read what purported to be reports by Constables John Connor, of Clifton, and J. O. Tomkins, of Helensburgh, and believed that similar meetings were held at Scarborough and Helensburgh on December 30th. Peter Bowling, he added, was tho president of the Colliery Employees’ Federation, northern dlctrict; D. Hutton waa, ho believed, a delegate of the Colliery Employees’ Federation, northern district; and James Butler was president and William O'Connor secretary of the Coal lumpers’ Union. Judge Heydon, in giving leave, said he had considered this affidavit, and had como to tho conclusion that the permission asked for should be granted. In accordance with the rule that he had laid down in the Hoskins case, when the first application of this kind was made, he said nothing of the reasons* which had led him to this conclusion, thinking it fairest to all parties that his action at this stage should bo perfectly colourless, and so avoid all possible risk of its influencing tho trial. ’

“I wish to say,” lie went on, "that I trust most sincerely that I shall ho reliev* ed of the trial of this case. I have already 1 lost a large part of my vacation through the Newcastle cases. I havo had a heavy year, and can see that the next will bo still heavier. Work at night has become the rule now with me. I am, for this, and other reasons ix> mo weighty, particularly anxious to get some time of rest. Moreover,'Mr Peter Bowling and I were for several ’ months colleagues on the Royal Commission at Newcastle. Our relations were very friendly, and I learned to respect him for his , mental powers and for the oped and strenuous way in which ho used his roaeon In tHo give-and-take of the many discussions which necessarily arose. It would bo intensely disagreeable to me to have to try him. "I fear, also, that there is possibly some danger that the exercise of the criminal jurisdiction of this Court may a ; little prejudice its efficiency In its arbitral jurisdiction, if the same man is to do both. Public confidence is absolutely essential to tho judge of an Industrial Court, if, ho is to do good work. I earnestly hope, therefore, that it may be possible to have the trial held before somo other judge.” [The case is now being tried by. DeputyJudge Bodgers.j EOEEIGN COAL AEEITING DREDGE GRABS TO EXPEDITE UNLOADING. (Received January 11, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 11. The first shipment of foreign, coal for the Government is expected to arrive to-morrow. To overcome the difficulty of unloading through the ooal-lumpers being on strike, the Railway Commissioners have had constructed a number of Priest man grabs, each capable of raising three tons of coal from tho ship’s hold at one lift.