EFFORT TO RE-OPEN

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 9

EFFORT TO RE-OPEN

ONLY SIX MEN VOLUNTEER GOVERNMENT MAY STOP DOLE NEW SOUTH WALES CRISIS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9.15 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 21. Although only six miners offered for work at the Rothbury colliery yesterday the Government does not consider its failure in this regard as proof that union labour will not eventually be available to work the mine. The Minister of Mines, the Hon. R. W. D. Weaver, in an outspoken reference to the matter to-day indicated that if the efforts to work this colliery failed for want of union labour there was a possibility that the Government dole for unemployed miners would be withdrawn. Before the Government can appeal for free labour a Bill will have to pass Parliament, repealing the clause in the Mines Act which provides that only skilled miners can work on a coal face. It is unlikely that there will be any further development on the coalfields until after the week-end conference called by the Prime Minister. It was stated to-day that thy mining engine drivers organisation will not be represented at this conference, owing to its hostility to the Miners’ Federation. The Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, announced in the Legislative Assembly today that he would attend the coal conference at Canberra during the weekend, but he would •be no party to a settlement which would not involve a reduction in the coal price by 4s. He was .not prepared to commit the people of New South Wales to a reduction in handling costs while other parties to the dispute were allowed to escape. The Premier denied allegations by the former Minister of Mines, Mr. Baddeley, that Rothbury was a gaseous colliery and very dangerous if worked by impractical miners.