DETERMINED MINERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 9

DETERMINED MINERS

WILL STOP VOLUNTEERS FROM WORKING NEW SOUTH WALES DEADLOCK Reed. 11 a.m. SYDNEY* Today. The latest developments in the coal trouble, summarised, are that the Greta, Rothbury, and Paxton miners’ lodges voted against the resumption proposals. The men’s leaders, at an aggregate meeting, threatened violence if the Government attempts to open the Rothbury mine. Messrs. Davies and Hoare, who made the agreement which has been rejected by the men, are now urging the meetings to reject it. Trades Hall officials are against a general strike, owing to a lack of funds. Speaking at the aggregate meeting at Shakespeare, the Cessnock miners’ representative said:—“We will have 13,000 men at Rothbury from other districts, to stop any men from working.” One section of the miners at Roth bury is demanding a secret ballot upon the question of the acceptance of the terms. Another is threatening violence if the Government attempts to open the mines with free labour. Meanwhile, a settlement seems as far off as ever, while at any moment the gravest upheaval may occur. The State Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, will take definite action to force the miners’ hands within a few days. The northern miners, with the exception of a few small lodges, have .rejected the terms approved by the miners’ delegates.