COLLIERY STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11125, 14 November 1907, Page 5

COLLIERY STRIKE.

MASS MEETING OF MINERS. APPROVES OF STRIKE, ! SHIPPING SERIOUSLY DIS- . LOCATED. . IRON FOUNDRIES CLOSE DOWN. [ COAL AT FAMINE PRICES. * L (Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copyright) [ SYDNEY, November 13. 1 A mass riieeting of miners at New- • castle was held to-day to discuss, matters m dispute with the colliery owners. A resolution was carried endorsing the i strike. Practically all the mines m the Newcastle and Maitland districts are laid I idle. ' - The estimate of Sydney's coal supply is that it will only last three days. The southern coal miners' lodges are discussing the northern situation.,. It is understood the miners of the Kembla mine have decided to strike m sympathy. It is believed others will follow suit. The situation is -very grave* (Received Nov. 14, 10.33 a.m.) •SYDNEY. Nov. 14 1 . The only collier^ not idle m Newcastle district is the Lambton, which is working on tribute. The latest developments are not of a reassuring character. The Miners' Committee carried a resolution appealing to miners m the Southern and- Western' districts, and m all coalmining centres of the: Commonwealth, tb assist m upholding the cause of unionism; also, to cable the situation to the principal unions m England, America, New Zealand, and other centres, asking sympathy and assistance. A further resolution was adopted' that m the event of mo settlement being reached to-day, all iriember^ be called upon to cease vi%k, and every constitutional effort-.be 'made to prevent. the production of coal while the struggle lasts.. The president of the Miners' Federation says that the resolutions do riot mean that the. Federation, does not desire a peaceful solution. It is quite* prepared to come to a settlement on the lines suggested by the Premier. The proprietors meet to-day to discuss the situation. The result is anxiously awaited. Efforts at mediation are being continued, with the .view of arranging a conference, whereat Mr Wadie (the Premier) has expressed his willingness to attend if asked: There is an enormous demand for coal m Sydney. '. An advance of '7o per cent, on ordinary prices -has been paid for supplies. If the strike continues dislocation of the ferry traffic is threatened. There is little more than a week's supply m hand. An economical service is being arranged. The failure of the coal supply will also be a serious blow to the iron foundriesand mean throwing 1 out of work 2000 hands. The Gas Company and railways have a month's supply m stc-ck. • \'-- The visible supply bf coal at Newcastle is only a few thousand :> tons. . Fancy price s have been offered, without finding sellers. - ' „. , Where possible vessels are being diverted to other ports. . Besides the miners, 900 trimmers and others engaged m loading have also been rendered! idle. Th© attitude of tlie Southern miners is watched with interest. Mount Kembla's decision to .strike m sympathy is confirmed. Other lodges are to . hold meetings. Delegate® from the ' Northern miners are visiting various lodges, seeking support. It is rumored tliat a secret agreement exists amongst the Northern, Southern, and Western miners m regard to com-, bined action m a strike. MELBOURNE, Nov. 14. At a meeting of steamship owners it ! was decided, m consequence of the' trouble at Newcastle, to immediately lay up ly steam colliers, employing nearly 600 officers and men. The supplies of coal are light. If the strike continues inter-State traffic will suffer. • " '~ . ■■.-.■ The Fyansford paper mills have closed for wian*. of opal. It is suggested tliat Mr Deakin be ask-' ed to act as mediator. / - AUCkLAND-NEWCA§TLE , TRADE. AUCKLAND, this day. A member of the firm of J. J. Craig and Co. stated to a reporter that tliere are twenty vessels engaged m tlie coal trade between Auckland and Newcastle, all of which will be laid up as'iar as coal cargoes are concerned. There would be no rise m sailing freights from Auckland, but difficulty would be experienced m securing return cargo. With vessels diverted to other trades it might be-diffifcult to obtain coal tonnage at the end of the strike. . THE EFFECT ON SHIPPING. _ _ DUNEDIN, this. day. Sir James Mills says the Newcastle strike will be a severe blow to the ship- . ping companies but many vessels will be kept going with New. Zealand coal. The Union Company"^ steamers will be kept running as usual, but at an enormously increased expenditure. A gentleman from the West Coast of New Zealand, being questioned as to how the strike, w-ould affect the mines there, said' that at present the output was as great as the labor available would permit ; the difficulty had been to get a sufficient number of suitable men. The whole output, was immediately absorbed. It. was possible tliat if a large number of miners wero obtainable from Australia, a great impetus would be given to the coal industry m New Zealand, the trouble not being to get rid of the output, but to obtain the men "to enable the development of the mines to, be carried on and production to be greatly increased.