THE COLLIERY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14685, 19 November 1909, Page 5

THE COLLIERY STRIKE

BOTH SIDES MARKING TIME. NEGOTIATIONS STILL PROCEEDING. Press association— Bj Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 18, (Received Nov. 19, at o.s a.m.) No important stiike developments look plate to-day. Tlis strike •jonfeicnce discussed various matters relating to organisation, including Mr bowling's -scheme for taking over certain mines, and an offer by the Australian Workers' Union—lite largest labour organisation in the Commonwealth—(o support the strike financially or otherwise. In the aftemoan Mr Hughes interviewed Mr Wood (Chief Secretary), in p! ace 0 ( Mr Wade, who is sick, and informed him that the answer previously' formulatel by the wr-Mary of lite strike conference informing the Premier that the conference could not accept his proposals conditionally on the men returning to work was not lo lis regarded as final. The communication was tbpati'hcd prior lo the matter being, finally referred to the executive, which had decided to susnend judgment until the matter had 'been referred lo tho executive of the Northern Miners' Federation. This was done to-night, and to-morrow the executive's decision will be conveyed to the Premier. SHIPMENT OF FROZEN MEAT BKFUSED. SYDNEY, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 1.5 „.„,, The Orient Company has 10,000 tons of coal on the water, and its services will bo tonlimted its usual. A liner in port has refused a large shipment of frozen meat, and has declined 10 .handle it till .the outlook is more settled.

EFFECT ON VICTORIAN RAILWAYS

REDUCED SERVICES.

MELBOURNE, November 18.

The Government lias decided to run a reduced train service in order to conserve tho coal stocks. SYMPATHY OF NEW ZEALAND Ml NEKS. (From Our Own Coiuiespoxdext.) GREYMOUTII, November ;a. The following cablegrams have been received and sent by Mr It. Hemple,' president of the Miners' Federation -.— "R. Sample, president Miners' Federation. " We request that no coal be sent to Australia. Letter following. A. Giiky, secretary lllawarni Federation, Sydney." The following reply was sent to Mr P. Bowling, president of the Miners' Federation, Newcastle :— " Your fight our fight. Will take any action considered necessary to ensure victory. Advise. R. SKMtE." WKSTPORT COAL COMPANY. NO EXPORTS TO NEWCASTLE. Mr G. Joachim, general manager of the Westpoi't Coal Co., yesterday gave a Daily Times reporter an assurance upon tho point that coal might bo exported fiom the Dominion to supply the want in Australia caused by the defection of the Newcastle mineis. In response to the query as to whether any coal would be exported, he replied :—

", Arc wc sending coal to Newcastle? No, not n ton. Why should we? We have more than wo can do to supply local demands. Gas companies which formerly used part Newcastle mixed with ours are now depending upon us entirely. The same remark applies to the home lines and other customer.*, and we must do our best to keep Hiom going. People complained when we had lo knock off a shift at Grimily that Newcastle coal was competing undiilv, and throwing men out of work. Well.'hero's the opportunity to regain what wo had lost and ;f the miners will support us in sccurlnS « Portion of this trade, which amounts to <!50,000 tons per annum, we may bo able lo retain it and find full employment for all t-h-J men available. It might be tempting to acxpt high prices for coal for export, but, in my opinion, it would be very bad policy, and will certainly not be done by my company."

PROPOSED ASSISTANCE BY NEW ZEALAND UNIONS. The resolution passed by the Bootmakers' Umon, that, tho various Trades Councils of tho Dominion be asked to consider the advisability of striking a levy on the 40 000 members of unions affiliated to the councils so as to provide a sum of £1000 per week to augment the Newcastle coal minors' stnk-3 ujid canio before the Otogo Trades council last night, wlicn it was decided to re.er tho suggestion to tho Now Zealand iincles and Labour Councils' executives for their consideration.

Io convcßation with a representative.of ho Sydney Daily Telegraph, Mr Andrew Uay, secrecy of the Federated Coal and Shale \Vomci-s' federation of Australasia, *ii(l richt-faand man to Mr l'cte,- Bowling sa.d hat the causes which prompted the men to down tools" were particularly numerous. Some of them were serious 7l puto- but. many were merely minor troubled-numerous and varied pin-p cte Among , ile complaints were the iohW m?r.. S ' 10 l. rl « VOl i IC - - , I " SOm ° C(ISeS mC " COllld i "only *f P '" ff6 ,'" 16 raks ' «»« oarnl"j, only !<& ;l , week. 2. Dirt money In one case a ,„,„ wis 'Y^'n^ctoflsedworthorol

4. Unionists being caUed upon to work with non-unionists.

5. Wheelers in sonic cases being paid as little as 2s per week. 6. Victimisation of men for assert-in" their rig its. There were nearly 1500 men who bail become a burden on the federation on this, account.

I f 0 .i dMB ?, l! ?? 1 0f A,bßrt Bm ' ns . *™- fjry of tl,e ilebburn Lodge. The refusal of he company to allow Burns in future to collect, the fortnightly levy. Refusal to allow him to bold a meeting on the mine orelllisrvj I'"3 : The South Clifton colliery trouble , ,* • of "'"onisni. ««« wwk a " d lbo