N.S.W. MINERS’ DISPUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16261, 9 February 1927, Page 7

N.S.W. MINERS’ DISPUTE

DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY SOME PLAIN SPEAEUNG (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Februarv 9, 10 ajn.) SYDNEY, Feb, 9. In the Assembly, Mr. Booth, member for Newcastle, moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the situation on the northern coal fields. Mr. Booth said that unless something was done a serious crisis would be precipitated. lie explained that recently the day wage men had been granted au increase of from Is 3d to Is (id daily, and coincidently the coal owners had increased the price of coal by Is fid a ton. The miners wanted local boards on the fields to deal with disputes arising from time to time, and an inquiry by the Federal Government as to whether the increase in the price of coal was justified. The increase meant a present of £750,000 vearlv to the owners.

Mr. Scott-Fell, himself a coal owner, said every increase granted to the miners was followed by further demands. They were too well paid. Foreign trade was almost entirely lost. “If the miners want a fight,” he said, “they can have it. There will be only one result for them —that is absolute defeat. The supplies of coal in Australia are at a maximum.” Mr. Davies said the principal grievance of the miners arose out of the working of the bad or abnormal places in the mines, where a miner could not earn a decent living wage. He said there should be a minimum living wage recoverable at law.

After further discussion the motion was defeated by 45 votes to 36,