AUSTRALIAN COAL TROUBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19783, 7 May 1926, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN COAL TROUBLE

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. PROSPECT OF STOPPAGE OF WORK. THREE STATES AFFECTED. @?ies» Association—Hr Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 6. (Received May 6, at 10.5 p.m.) Unless the unexpected happens quickly there will be a general cessation of work on Saturday in all the collieries in New Booth Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. It is now expected that final nonces will be issued to-day by the Engineers’ Association to the branch secretaries informing them that the two days’ conference held in Sydney proved abortive, instructing the executives that as the 14 days’ notice ends on Saturday all the members of the association engaged in the mines will cease work on the completion of the night shifts on that date, and requestion them to leave everything in proper order. If successful intervention happens before the expiry of the notices they will be informed. The Minister of Labour is continuing his efforts to secure a settlement. He. had an interview to-day with representatives of the owners and the engineers, but so far it has apparently been fruitless. If the engineers cease over 30,000 miners will be rendered idle. A Cabinet meeting was held to-day •without Mr Lang, who is absent assisting in the Queensland election campaign, and discussed the position. It is understood that the Ministers take the view that as both sides in both the 44-hour and mining disputes are adamant there is small chance of a settlement being reached and that as all the States are involved Mr Bruce should taka steps to end the trouble. GOVERNMENT ACTION PROPOSED. SYDNEY, May 6. (Received May 7, at 0.5 a.m.) The Minister of Labour stated to-night that he had written to both parties to the coal dispute informing them of the course which the Government proposed to take in view of the grave position and hoping they wonld see their way to give it favourable consideration. He declined to say what me Government’s proposal was.