STATEMENT BY THE ACTINGPREMIER.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12710, 1 December 1909, Page 2

STATEMENT BY THE ACTINGPREMIER.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. V PEOPLE'S Jv'KEDS TO BE SUPPLIED- . ENFORCEMENT OF PENAL ' CLAUSES. (Received Nov 30, 9.0 p.m.) Sydney, Nov 30. WJion ihc Assembly met tcM3a.j- r Mr Lee, Acting-Premier, made a statement of the Government's intentions in regard to the strike, in view of the possible general paralysis of business. He said there was- a serious possibility of large interests in the State being so crippled that it would take many years to restore them to their normal condition. All the Government's efforts to bring the parties together having failt ed, and realising that the community had been tried to the point of its patience being exhausted, the Government had determined to intervene directly, Action would ho taken to command the whole output of the mines now afc work, with which to supply the, community. The Government would assert its right to take as rrvuch coal as it wanted, and care would be taken to' protect the public in tho matter of values. While the Government was loth to interfere unless those acting for the miners and the owners did not in tho immediate future meat and offer a solution of the trouble, the Industrial Disputes Act would be enforced, involving the penal clauses and the appointmemt of a Conciliation Board. While relying on the good sense of the miners and the owners, it must be clearly understood that if efforts were made to pratraet the situation the Government was determined to expend every means allowed to bring about a settlement. The statement had the concurrence of Mr Wade and the whole Cabinet. After some desultory debate, Mr McGowan moved that the methods proposed by the Government to deal with the industrial troubles are absolutely insufficient to meet publics requirements. At Mr Lee's request, owing to the acutcness of the situation. Mr McGowan agreed to proceed with the motion without any adjournment.