N.S. WALES COLLIERY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 7

N.S. WALES COLLIERY STRIKE

WORKERS' JONES TO BE CLOSED. COAL LUMPERS DECIDE TO STRIKE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, December 8. Mr Hughes announces that the miners' mines are to bo closod owing to the low prices ottered for the coal by the Railway Commissioners. It is reported that nioro than one northern colliery is making preparations to start work with a free labour contingent upon certain terms. Is'sgotifttions are now proceeding. The northern proprietors have endorsed Mr Fomyth's appointment us a member of the Compulsory Wages Board.

In the Assembly Br Arthur asked, in view of artificial light being in danger, would the Government be prepared to pass a Daylight-saving Bill this session, Tho Acting' Premier replied that if n bill would give them 24 hours of daylight tho Government would initiate one at once, but he did not eee how such a bill could meet the difficulty created by Hie strike. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. ATTACK ON THE GOVERNMENT. SYDNEY, December 8. (Received Dec. 9, at 0.5 a.m.) The Coal Lumpers' Union has decided to strike. Tho Assembly has been sitting continuously on the Estimate. The timo has been largely taken up with an attack on the Government over the strike. Several disorderly scenes occurred. One Labour member accused tho Government of making a deliberate attempt to create an insurrection by sending a large forco of police to Newcastle. Tho Chief Secretary replied that tho whole action of the Government had been one of tolerance, forbearance, and continual effort to influence both parties to biing about, a settlement. The Government was not going to allow industrial paralysis to overtake the State. It would, if neccssary, get coal from abroad, though it preferred to give even' chance to get it locally. If the Government protected the mines it would not allow the owners to esil the coal to the public at famine prices. COAL EOR. RAILWAYS. PROBABLE IMPORTATION. MELBOURNE, December 8. The Railway Commissioners, with tho consent of the Government, will negotiate for, the importation of English coal in tho event of the Newcastle strike continuing. NATIONALISATION OF MINES. LABOUR PARTY'S SCHEME. 'SYDNEY, December 8. The Labour party has under consideration a scheme for nationalising certain northern mines, v.hich it proposes to submit to tho Strike Congress.