QUIET ON MINE FRONT

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 9

QUIET ON MINE FRONT

NEW SAFETYMEN WORKING OWNERS REJECT OFFER MINERS’ DEFENCE ARMY By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 8:50 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 17. The coalfields were again quiet to-day. The mines where the union safetymen were withdrawn are now working, the owners supplying their own safetymen. The Primo Minister’s further effort to bring the parties together is taking definite shape. The mine-owners have not disclosed the terms' of Mr. Scullin’s latest offer, but it is understood to be practically identical with the one submitted by him a month ago, when the Federal Government announced its preparedness to provide a subsidy-of fid a ton, which was rejected. The coal-owners held a meeting to-day to consider the matter, and at the conclusion Mr. McDonald, the chairman of the associated northern proprietors, held out littlp hope of acceptance of the offer. He added that the proprietors were emphatically opposed to bounties, which were only likely to provide a temporary settlement.

Tho New South Wales Labour Council at the Trades Hall decided to form a workers’ defence army. The official bulletin admitted that the army is a permanent revolutionary force. ‘‘We must prepare not only for resistance, but for attack,” the manifesto states.

It is reported that the Constitutional Association intended to form a Fascist body, but the council decided that any unionist who joined would be expelled. The Miners’ Federation is supplying labour to fill the places of the enginedrivers who are on strike at the unassociated pits. The miners’ executive advised tho miners to discontinue mass picketing. There are grave fears, 6wing to the cessation of pumping, that some mines will become permanently unworkable.

Active coal production at Rothbury is continuing, amounting to 150 tons per day.

A Labour member of the Federal Parliament, Mr. Aldridge, has telegraphed to Mr. H. Scullin, asking him to take steps to disarm the coalfields police, failing which he should convene a special meeting of the Labour caucus tos’discuss the advisability of the Federal Government taking full control of the coal situation. DISCUSSION TO CONTINUE. MR. BAVIN ON A MISSION. Rec. 10.35 p.m. Melbourne, Jan. 17. The Prime Minister announced tonight that a settlement of the coal trouble was not yet in sight. Discussion with Mr. Bavin will be continued to-morrow. Mr. Bavin’s principal mission is to induce Mr. Scullin to disband the workers’ defence corps, which is illegal under the Federal Constitution.