COAL MINES DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20929, 20 January 1930, Page 7

COAL MINES DISPUTE

ATTEMPT AT SETTLEMENT. LABOUR PARTY’S ACTION. CONFERENCE TO BE GALLED. (United Press Association.) uJy Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, January IS, In an effort to settle the coal deadlock the Australian Labour Party instructed its secretary to convene a conference as early as possible of New South Wales anil Federal members of Parliament and the New South Wales State and Australian Labour Party executives. FEELING AGAINST POLICE. SERGEANT REMOVED FROM HOSPITAL. SYDNEY, January 18. Remarkable prejudice against the police was exhibited at the Cessnock Hospital, when, following complaints from a number of patients that a police sergeant had been admitted for treatment, the Board of Management decided to ask the authorities to remove the sergeant to another institution. He was later sent to Newcastle Hospital. So bitter is the feeling that the employees of the Kearsley Shire Council refused to operate the sanitary services at places where the police arc quartered. MASS PICKETING TO BE RESUMED. POLICE FORCE STRENGTHENED. SYDNEY, January 18. Undeterred by the action of the police on Wednesday, the minors on the Maitland field .decided to resume mass picketing. Fearing a -move by the men, the police, numbering 100, were strengthened by a flying gang, and a wireless .patrol stood by at Cessnock last night during the assembling of a Communist meeting, A DISQUIETING RUMOUR. THE CONFERENCE ABORTIVE. SPECIAL MEETING OF CABINET. SYDNEY, January 19. (Received Jan. 20, at 0.10 a.m.) It is understood hero that the conference of parties in the coal dispute, convened by the Prime Minister in Melbourne, was abortive, and that Mr Bavin is returning to Sydney tomorrow to attend a special Cabinet meeting which will develop plans for the reopening of additional coal mines with volunteer labour. It is also stated that the Premier is intent upon suppressing the so-called “ Workers’ Defence Corps.” “ WORKERS’ DEFENCE CORPS.” COMMUNISTS GATHER IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, January 19. (Received Jan. 19, at 6.40 p.m.) About'so Communists assembled outside the Sydney Trades Hall to-day with the object of enlisting, names for the “ Workers’ Defence Corps.” Members of the Kurri Coalfields’ Pipers’ Band gathered to bead a procession through the streets, but the police suppressed the procession, and the crowd went into the Trad.es Hall, where a resolution was carried pledging them to form a workers’ army to combat “ bosses tactics in every sphere.” COAL FROM BRITAIN. FOUR CARGOES SOLD TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, January IS. (Received Jan. 19, at 5.30 p.m.) Four cargoes of British coal aggregating 27,000 tons wore sold to Australia during the week.