THE COLLIERY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14683, 17 November 1909, Page 5

THE COLLIERY STRIKE

A WAITING POLICY.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT.

Press Association--Bj Telegraph—Copjrijht.

SYDNEY, November 16.

(Received Nov. 16, at 9.10 p.m.

In the Assembly to-day Mr M'Gowen (Leader of the Opposition) asked the Premier if' he would use liis influence and the influence of his Government with the colliery-owMMi to grant an open conference, and, failing fuch conference, would he try to obtain temporary possesion of some of the mine.) and work them to mc:t the public requirement?. Mr M'Gowen added that if legislation were required lie c.mld guarantee Ihe support of the Opposition.

.Mr Wade said the. position wa s u, a (_ the employer* said Hie mines were <;,pon for the men U> r-Mnne. work. Tliat involvcd no sacrifice of principlo. If work was ruumed it was to he l : .-.|,..,j ~,.,; expected that the ov.mi,;' pcom;',-c of ;l . conference, would be given eifci.t, to, So loim- as tiie in-cu would r.ot- i-efuin to the mine:; t!:;>y iJ?in-Jv(-d the of the opportunity of helping thnii. W nl .| ; sliculd be iv-sico;;!. I hen a Ip__-. ;i l !:ibiuiai Wi.uiii I).- av.-.-Vole to redress ih:ir ett'evaii-:-. lie had taken steps to : , k V:, O partirs to empower him to l\ :i ... (].•,(„ whereon woik wcahl be concurrently with the opening of the promined tonforence. 'lie option of the of the coal .supply „as outside the, present, controversy and i canned morn careful thought tliim bad been given In it. If nich question:, were opened up durinc a. crisis like the present, Cod help the prospects of a peaceful settlement.

The. strike conicrcnco sat again, 10-day l»!t it j h fiily marklir; time till tin Government's altitude is announced.

MORE STEAMERS IDLK

WATERSIDE WORKERS' TiALLOT. SYDNEY. Nov. 16.

(Received Nov. 1.7. at 0.50 a.m.)

The Lilhgon- iremvorks are. doped as a result, of the coal strike. Three hundred n\»n aro tint? KMideved idle.

The strike conference d : Mr Bowling's proposal to take, over and work certain, minis. It appointed a committee to interview Iho owners of the proposed mints and report to'the conference.

' Several more steamers have been laid up at Sydney, and the Kurow, which arrived at Newcastle from New Zealand to-day, will be laid up there. In Melbourne the Otis Engineering Works have been clored owing to the. coal shortage. The Watcrride Workers will take a strike ballot to-morrow.

(Received Nov. 17, at 1.20 a.m.)

Tile Sydney wool sales have been post pon;d till the labour troubles are ended.

In the Assembly Mr M'Gowcn moved the adjournment of tho Assembly in order to discura the question of the nationalisation of sufficient collieries to supply public requirements.

INCREASING PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND. CHANCE TO CAPTURE THE MARKET. (From Oto Own Cokhespoxdent.) WELLINGTON, November 16.

The Wft-tport Coal Company and other West Coast companies are doing all in their power to put out as much coal as possible. At (iranily the miners are being divided into two shifts, and all extra men available ivre being employed. This additional output begins from to-day. Noneof the local companies, I learn, will send any coal to Australia, no matter how tempting the offers received may be. Apart from tho question of complications wising from such a course, it is recognised that their first duty is to supply local requirements. Only a short time ago the coal miners wero crying out against Newcastle imports. Now, it ■"* felt, is their opportunity ,o show what can be done by giving a good output when Newcastle coals are practically out of the market. FEELING AMONGST NEW ZEALAND MINERS, A SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE. (From Oub Own Coiuiesioxdest.) GREYMOUTH, November 16. The miners (of tho State collieries have decided not to load any coal for Newcastle. They are rather -suspicious of a steamer in port that is likely to sail for a port on the other side, they decline to loiul any more than 600 tons if'it should ho .proved that State coal is delivered in the vicinity of Newcastle. The Brmmer Coal Company has for a considerable timo pa.st been storing up slack owing to thero being no demand for it. It has now on hand several thousand lons, for whioh, in view of the strike at Newcastle, it will no doubt, have a keen demand.

In regard to Mr Manning's statement to an Auckland reporter concerning the Newcastle strike, j\lr R. Temple (president of the New Zealand Miners' Federation) Mates that it does not correctly represent the attitude of the federation. Mr Semple stales that the federation will give financial support to the Newcastle miners, but will not otherwise interfere ill the trouble, He further added that the federation would not allow of Newcastle orders being fulfilled in New Zealand, or of steamers taking sufficient coal in New Zealand to the round journey to Australia and back. Apparently tbo double shifts at C'r-wity arc beini* put on to cope with !his extra demand.

(Pen United Press Association.)

CHIUSTCIIURCH, November 16. This morning .the following cablegram was rent front Lyttelton to the secretary of the Miners' Federation, Newcastle: "The New Zealand Waterside Federation con-gl'iUlllatc-s the Newcastle miners on the stand they have takcn.-J. Heed, President. J|. Voyee. Secretary.''

The Dmiedin Operative Boctniakcv;' I'nion, at a woll-al-ended general meeting held in (lie Trade, J led! last cvoningf, adopted the following rrsolul ion:--"That iho Oiago Trades Council hi' requited lo ask tho various Traces Councils <if tho Dominion to consiciw the advisability of striking a levy on the ?O,OCO unionists affiliated to the council'!, so as lo provide a sum of £1000 per week to donate to the Newcastle Coal Miners' Strike Fund.''