STRIKE MAY NOT GO ON

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 7

STRIKE MAY NOT GO ON

PEACE MOVES AT CANBERRA MR LYONS TO MEET MINERS’ LEADERS FOUB THOUSAND MEN CEASE WORK AT CESSNOCK (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 9, 10.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 9.

Important last-minute moves to avert a general strike among the coal miners were made today.

The Premier of New South Wales (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) announced that the Minister of Mines (Mr R. S. Vincent) had motored to Canberra to discuss certain features- of the dispute with the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons). The Leader of the Federal Opposition (Mr J. Curtin) also entered the negotiations for peace after a telephone conversation with the miners’ leaders, who declared that they would be satisfied with a Federal investigation into their grievances.

Mr Lyons later agreed to receive a deputation from the Miners’ Federation tomorrow.

Four thousand miners at the Cessnock coal fields ceased work today. About 7000 tons of British coal have been ordered by the Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Company, in expectation of a prolonged strike. The secretary of the Miners’ Federation (Mr W. Orr) sent the following telegram to all districts: “In confirmation of the decision of the directions committee all work must cease as from Friday.” Mr Orr said: “Our instructions will be carried out in every pit in the Commonwealth.” SPREAD TO DOMINION NOT FEARED DECLINE IN IMPORTS OF AUSTRALIAN COAL (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 9. The opinion that should there be a general strike of coal miners in Australia the trouble would not spread to New Zealand before the elections was expressed by Colonel W. D. Holgate, former president of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association and a director of the Taupiri Coal Mines. Colonel Holgate said the most serious affect in the Dominion would not be directly caused by the strike, but by the terms of settlement which followed. He did not anticipate any shortage of coal nor a rise in price because of the cessation of production in Australia. New Zealand imported very little coal now. There had been a steady decrease as the local output increased and gas companies turned more to the use of Westport coal for gas-making purposes.