Coal Strike Feared

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 1

Coal Strike Feared

MINERS’ “ALL OUT” POLICY Sydney Already Short of Gas (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received 9.45 a.m. SYDN'Fd, Toda> . IT is feared that a coal strike throughout the whole State will occur on Friday. The enginedrivers and firemen need to give only 24 hours’ notice, and Mr. Atkins, State secretary of the union, is confident that tomorrow’s meeting of the State council will endorse the “all out” policy.

A general strike will close down the steel works at Newcastle within a very short period, throwing 10,000 men out of employment. At the Coal Commission, Mr. J. A. Browne, K.C., representing the mining unions, stated that the miners were prepared to return to work under the conditions prevailing previous to the cessation of work. “If the pit wages costs are higher than those claimed by the unions, we will submit to whatever adjustment in wages is considered necessary," he said. It is improbable that the coal-owners will agree to a resumption of work on the previous rates of pay. Between 3,000 and 4,000 miners at Newcastle marched to the Richmond main colliery before 6 a.m. yesterday and picketed the mine. The police report that nothing occurred to warrant their intervention. From the mine concerned the enginedrivers and firemen have been withdrawn, and growing restlessness becomes more manifest each day.

The community at last is beginning to feel the effects of the coalmining stoppage. The largest gas company in the city announces restrictions on the supply. It urges consumers to use 10 per cent, less gas for cooking. The company will forthwith cut off the supply of gas between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to G a.m. This will affect 500.000 people immediately. Proprietors of restaurants already are radically revising their menus. The New South Wales Government has appointed an emergency gas board similar to that established during the strike of 1917. The Government says the police force is adequate for the preservation of order, although feeling is tense on the northern coalfields. Mr. C. MacDonald, chairman of the Northern Collieries Association, in an interview, admitted that the position Is extremely serious for users of gas. If the safety men are withdrawn, together with the enginedrivers from the western and sputhern pits, the coal supplies of the State will immediately cease. All reserve stocks are exhausted, Mr. MacDonald said.