VOLUNTEER MINERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17173, 1 February 1930, Page 5

VOLUNTEER MINERS

MOLESTED IN SYDNEY REMARKABLE SCENES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.» (Received Feb. 1, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 1. Remarkable scenes were witnessed at the Central railway station last night following the arrival of a party of ■ volunteer miners from JRothbury. Pickets attempted to molest the men, one of whom was brutally assaulted and was sent to hospital with severe scalp wounds. During stoppages at mining towns on route to Sydney the volunteers were hooted and insulted by groups of minors gathered on the platforms. Many of the volunteers upon their arrival in Sydney made a dash for waiting taxis, but Millard, the man who was injured, walked. Ho was soon struck down and kicked. The coal dispute is likely to engage tlie Prime Minister, Mr. Seullin, and the Premier, Mr. Bavin, during the week-end. Mr. Bavin has announced that the Government is seriously considering the withdrawal of its offer of last September of a reduction in coal handling charges. Mr. Scullin is perturbed at the recent turn of events in financial circles abroad, due to the industrial unrest in Australia. Mr. Theodore is reported to have told some of his constituents that the Federal Government is seriously thinking of iin posing a prohibitive tariff on imported coal. MINERS AND OWNERS LOSE MELBOURNE, Jan. 20. Wages lost by the coalminers during the 10 months of the dispute are esti-, mated at more than £2,000,000 by the chairman of the Northern Colliery Proprietors’ Association, Mr. C. M. McDonald. Mr. McDonald said to-day it was impossible at present to estimate the losses of the owners. That could not be done until the end of the strike, but, including the loss of trade, they would be very great. “One company I know,” said Mr. McDonald, “has lost £50,000 simply because it had to keep its mines in working order without getting anything out of them.”