'ALL IN' STRIKE NOW A PROBABILITY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 40, 22 February 1929, Page 6

'ALL IN' STRIKE NOW A PROBABILITY

AUSTRAUTAX COAL INDUSTRY. PREMIERS HOLD CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, February 20. An “all in” strike on all the coalfields of Hie S'V’to, following] the clpsing of most of the northern collieries, is now a distinct probability. This development is mainly due to the dispute concerning tactics among the unions concerned. The indications arc that the Aimers’ Federation is endeavouring to force upon (ho allied unions a certain line or action which will result only in the militant minority group being enabled to achieve its expressed purpose of throwing all the mines idle. The State Premier, Mr T. RBavin, returned to Sydney to-day from Canberra, where he discussed the position with the Federal Prime Minister, Mr S. M. Bruce, who agreed to renew the commonwealth offer of a bounty of a. shilling a ton on all e«al exported from New South Wales, Mr Bavin added that the State reduction in rail freights on coal still Stood. This, Mr Bavin considered, with the employees’ reduction of a shilling in wages, should

enable employers further to reduce the price of coal by 4s or 5s a tout and the industry should soon be rehabilitated. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the offer would be accepted promptly.