IDLE IRON WORKS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13177, 8 February 1936, Page 5

IDLE IRON WORKS.

BIG STRIKE IN OPERATION.

FOUR THOUSAND MEN OUT. United Press Assn.—By Electric T elegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, February 7. The strike at the Port Kembla iron and steel works has assumed serious proportions, and at least 4000 men are idle, including the employees of the colliery which supplies coal to the steel works ; also the railway employees of the private line which conveys raw materials from the Government railways. The strike is having a bad effect on local business, chiefly Wool! ongong, the Mayor of which is endeavouring to induce the Government to bring about a conference of the parties.

Tlie steel works, prior to the strike, was working at high pressure on overseas contracts, and the stoppage of work will mean a heavy loss to Australian Iron and Steel, Ltd., and will also indirectly affect the operations of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company’s huge works at Newcastle.

If the strike extends to the power house employees at Port Kembla, as is thought likely, several important coastal towns, including Woollongong, will be left without power and light.