MINERS UNSETTLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 5

MINERS UNSETTLED

a ■ (Fkom Ock Own Coeeespondent.) SYDNEY, September 28.™!. -The coal miners have been inclined tat':, be a little more “restive” than usual lately. During the months there have been no f fewer than 86 separate stoppages on the - Newcastle and Maitland coal fields. Since the beginning of the year they have achieved ■ < the rather astonishing record of 280 distinct strikes. The owners claim, and no*-’ without some justification, that many- of;,, these irritating hold-ups have occurred for, ;j the most trivial reasons. In numbers pf ;? the collieries the “darg” ha 9 been put into,.; force and the output accordingly restricted.w Some people are inclined to regard thO ( in- - stitution of the “darg” as part of the go- - slow” policy of the State Council of Action.,One of the'big men among the miners has , put it thus: “We will endeavour to safe-, guard our interests the best way .known to our members.” The “interests which they are now guarding • against at the moment i are a suggested -wage-cut and the State.: Government’s efforts to bring about the _ C °lt I would seem that a delicate position is developing, and this at a time when •». , latest official figures give the of the worklcss army in New South IN ales a 6 , 11,500. ___________