N.S. WALES COLLIERY STRIKE

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 19

N.S. WALES COLLIERY STRIKE

MINERS GIVING WAY. PROPOSED SURRENDER, DISTRESS PREVALENT. SYDNEY, January 18. Trouble is threatened at Balmain colliery, which for the past three weeks has been producing 300 tons of coal daily. The miners complain that the company is not abiding by its agreement that no coal should be sold while the strike lasts. The Newcastle Coal Company has asked the Government to supply it ' with foreign coal when it arrives, the company's stock being almost exhausted. January 19. The hearing of the cases against P>o\vling and others was continued. The Crown case against Bowling has closed. The police evidence was to the effect that Bowling urged the miners to be orderly, and not insult the police. Bowling, in asking for an acquittal, pleaded that he •could be doing better outside than taking up time in the court. He added that undoubtedly had the trial not delayed matters in connection with a settlement there might have been peace now. The application for an acquittal was refused. Bowling then secured .an adjournment till Monday. It is reported that men are working the Mount Keira mine, and that, small quantities of coal are being sent out. The steamer Tottenham brought the first cargo of English coal. After landing 3000 tons at Fremantle she brought 2000 tons here. All the coal is for the Orient Company. Fresh trouble has occurred among the wharf labourers. They declined to allow the bunkering of the Ocean Steamship Company's steamer Jason from the collier Ilario January 20. The number affected by the Jason trouble is only about 150. The men were under the impression that the Ilario's coal was for non-union steamers. The Moresby and Maallina are to be reoommissioned for the island service, as sufficient coal has been obtained to permit them to resume running. January 24. 'At a mass meeting at Woonona, on the south coast, Mr Bowling advised the men to resume work, and to seek an open conference with the proprietors. Mr Hughes considers that the strike is now ripe for settlement. Mr Bowling's proposal is one of "unconditional surrender." Much misery exists in the north and south, and nothing can be gained by prolonging the struggle. When the Compulsory Wages Board met to-day the Newcastle miners stated that they had no claims to make, and the employers also intimated that they had nothing to submit. The judge said that the board would go on whether the parties liked it or not. Witnesses on both sides will be subpoenaed, and the hearing of evidence will commence on Thursday. MELBOURNE, January 23. Estimates show that there are 100,000 tons of British and foreign coal afloat for Australia. LONDON, January 19. The quantity of coal exported from New castle last- year was 1,443.000 tons less than for the previous year. The general trade of the port is also badly affected by the strike. The revenue collected at the Custom House shows a falling off of £14,932. NEWCASTLE MINERS' MEETING. DEAN'S DRAMATIC PROTEST. At .the miners' meeting on January 9, at which several speakers, as already cabled, made wild speeches about hanging Mr Wade and Mr Lee, the Dean of Newcastle made a courageous and' dramatic protest. The Daily Telegraph thus describes the scene:— The sudden appearance of the Dean of Newoaatle on the balcony created a sensation. The rev. gentleman was obviously labouring under some strong emotion. He hurried to where Mr Peter Bo%vling was sitting and exchanged a few words with the miners' president. When advancing to the edge of the balcony he held' up his right hand as though to command silence, and shouted:

"Mr Chairman, men, and women." There was an immediate silence, followed by an outburst of howls and hoots. " I venture to think," the dean continued, is soon as he could make himself heaord, " that from the reception you gave me a Jortnight ago you will hear what I have to say now. Mr Bowling is sportsman enough to give me permission to say what I want to say. I am going to say something now that you will not like, but I think because of the kindly consideration you showed me when I spoke to you before that you will listen. —(Applause and interruption.) I understand that you were called here to consider the new legislation that has been passed, and to protest against it. I tell you now that such speeches as you have heard —the last speech and the speech from Mr Walsh—are the sort of sj>eoches that will prolong this strike indefinitely.—(Uproar.) Men who speak like that—(great disorder and' hooting)—men who speak like the last speaker, who blaspheme, who tell you what he told you, are your enemies, and are no friend of tho working man. —(Cheers and uproar.) Men. hold ydur own opinion, and don't be afraid to give vent to them, but A voice (fiercely): Keep your own opinion. The Dean: Yes, I will. —(Cheers and groans.) One word more. —(Renewed disorder.) Mr Bowling (advancing to the balcony rail): Hcaa- what he has to say. He'll do no harm. The Dean: Mr Bowling will have an opportunity of speaking after me. I thought that was only fair. —(Prolonged interruption.) I a>m going to say what I have to say if I stay here all night.—(More dieorder.) You. can hear your friend Peter presently. A Voice: You are only poking fun. Another intcrjector: None of your sarcasm. Mr Bowling (to the crowd): Be quiet for a few moments. Let the Dean finish. Don't be the least afraid. He will be answered to the full. The Dean : I venture to protest, because I don't want the speeches we have heard to go forth as representing the thinking men of Newcastle. A Voice: They represent the workers. The Dean: T am sure you don't acrree with that extreme talk about taking out Mr Wade and killing him.—(lnterruption.) I protest as a citizen of Newcastle, and as one who, no matter what you may say, am a friend of the working man. I have worked ais hard as anv of you in aid of the unemployed, and T sympathise to the full with the thousands of those who are suffering because of this ghastly strike. Those speeches and language we have heard are what give justification for legal action. MR BOWLING AGITATED. Mr Bowling, who had been getting more angry every moment, jumped to his feet at this, and seizing the dean by the sleeve of his coat, said something in a menacing tone. " That's enough: you are going too far," was all that could b 3 heard at the press table, but there could be no doubt as to Mr Bowling's infuriated state of mind. The Dean (as Mr Bowling resumed his seat): Very well, I leave it at that. I protest, as one who believes in justice, against such speeches. They are wrong. It is wrong to listen to such speeches.—(Groans and uproar.) I speak as one who wants to help you. —(800-hoos and hoots.) The uproar continued until the dean retired from the balcony. Mr Bowling then came forward, but at first found considerable difficulty in getting a heaving. The dean, he said, had not done the least little bit of harm. At the same time, however, he had practically invited the a.rresb by the police of two of the speakers. If the Government did not take action after hearing what the dean had said, the Government was not doing its duty. However he had more to trouble about than the Dean of Newcastle. The dean had denounced what he termed the violent speeches that had been delivered. If they had £6OO a-year and nothing to trouble about they might look at the position in a different light. If the dean worked in a coal mine and had a family to support on a mere pittance he would perhaps be guilty of stronger language. At one time he thought he bad perhaps misjudged the Rev. Golding Bird when he said that he was an ignorant new chum who bad come here to interfere in things he knew nothing about. He now found that he was cc-rrect, and he did not retract a word of what he had said. The remainder of Mr Bowling's speech consisted chiefly of a flattering description of his reception in the south. Mr Hughes, he said, had followed him and received the dressing down of his life. Several times Mr Bowling was interrupted, and at length he asked the police to remove a man who was persistently interjecting. Mr Bowling proceeded to say that, owing to the efforts of unionists the Labour party would capture the Newcastle seat at the forthcoming elections. The man who gained the seat should be a representative of organised unionism. " I am not speaking for myself," Mr Bowling said; "I don't want to go into Parliament. I would almost aa soon go to gaol. I could have been there before now if I had only sand 'Yes' occasionally. All the same we should try to get some men into Parliament who really represent unionism."-

I Mr Bowling was subjected to further interruption. i " There is an individual in the audience," Mr Bowling shouted, " who is trying to make those around him believe that I have a share in the Young Wallsend colliery."' A Voice . " I say so, too." Mr Bowling: If a man will say that to me, I will make him prove his words. I don't own a share in anything, and I have nothing in the bank. Continuing, Mr Bowling said his mission to the south was one; of peace. Congress had been reorganised, and Congress meant .to bring about a peaceful settlement. Wade's Government did not want a peaceful settlement, but that the men should be beaten and forced back. If the gaoling of their leaders would intimidate them, let them crawl back now, but if it meant that the men would stiffen their backs and stand to Congress he would be prepared to do 12 months for their sakes gladly.— (Cheers.) The motion condemning the anti-stnke legislation was put to the meeting and declared carried unanimously.