MOUNT MORGAN STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 7

MOUNT MORGAN STRIKE

DIRECT ACTION FAVOURED. “FINISHED WITH ARBITRATION COURT. QUESTION OF CLOSING MINE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BRISBANE, September 11. A mass meeting of the Mount Morgan strikers decided to withdraw their claims from the Arbitration Court. The men stated that they had finished with the court, and were now going in for direct action. The Home Secretary (Mr Stopford) announced that he was informed that if the company definitely decided to close the mine the men would accept the position, and those who were able to do so would seek employment elsewhere. Ho said he had arranged for the directors of the company to meet the Premier (Mr Gillies) on Tuesday. The Minister added that he had been informed that the press reports of the trouble were exaggerated. CASE FOR THE MEN. ALLEGATIONS OF POOR WAGES. MORE CERTAINTY DESIRED. BRISBANE, September 12. The Home Secretary, in a statement as member for Mount Morgan, said that what the men desired was some definite declaration of policy respecting the company’s intentions, so that they would know exactly what V) do. The trouble had been simmering ever since 1921, when a. 20 per cent, reduction in wages was made. It was pretty safe to say that with broken time, lost time, and holidays the average wage of a surfaceman would be about £6 a fortnight. In addition, it had been the policy of the company for some years to threaten to close the works, and the men had become exasperated. The Minister siaid he did not think that the men objected to the closing of the mine, but they wanted a definite declaration of the company’s policy. Mount Morgan was a community where (he men owned their own homes, and the uncertainty was depreciating the value of them. Now a home, which before the reduction in wages was worth £2OO, would' not realise £SO. There were 1300 men directly concerned in the lockout. Every section of the workers was solid. „ , U is slated that Mr Rymer, state president of the Australian railways Union, has wired the leader of the Mount Morgan workers to inform Mr Stopford that the railwaymen are behind the Mount Morgan workers regarding Hie 44-hour week and a living wage. Commenting on this Mr Stopford said that there was no need to inf o .™ him that Hie railwayrften were behind the Mount Morgan workers. They had always been behind them, especially m 1921' when they were so far behind them that when the Mount Morgan men were fighting against the first wage reduction 18 000 railwaymen contributed only £9O in’the year.' This time he hoped that the railwaymen would come a bit closer. Ho suggested that they should levy themselves 2s weekly then possibly the past neglect might be forgotten, MINE ON FIRE. MINERS RALLY TO RESCUE. BRISBANE, September 15. (Received Sdpt. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) A telephone message has been received at Rockhampton from Mount Morgan stating that the headgear of the mine is on fire. Miners rallied from all parts of the' town to the rescue. No details are available. DANGEROUS FIRE-FIGHTING. INDUSTRIAL SITUATION EASIER. BRISBANE, September 13. (Received Sept. 13, at 5.5 p.m.) The strikers at Mount Morgan commandeered motor buses and other vehicles and rushed to assist at the fir© at the mine. The situation at the outbreak was alarming and in the absence of lights the work of locating the seat of the fire is very dangerous, the sulphur fumes being almost unbearable. Apparently the men who rushed to the mine in large numbers checked the outbreak. The fire caused the industrial trouble to be forgotten for the time being and the situation has now quietened, although the pickets are still vigilant.