GREAT COAL STRIKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14062, 20 November 1909, Page 5

GREAT COAL STRIKE.

TO WORK TWO COLLIERIES

Press A*»oeia,tion-By Telegraph-Copyright SYDNEY, Nov. 19.

An agreement has been drawn up for the working of two collieries by the miners in conjunction with the owners outside the Vend. A few minor points remain to bo settled. Operations may commence on Monday. COALS FOR AUSTRALIA. A RISE IN FREIGHTS. LONDON, Nov. 18. Coals are being hurried from Japan and elsewhere to Australia.

It is suggested that mail boats leaving England should take sufficient coals to enable them, by replenishing at Colombo, to run from Ceylon to Australia and back.

Owing to the strike tho British-India Company has raised freights (weight and measurement) to Brisbane, by 5s a ton, and the Orient Company from next week, will raise freight measuorments to all Australian ports by 15s. CONFERENCE ADJOURNED. THE PREMIER'S PROPOSALS. Received 9.0 p.m., Nov. 19th. SYDNEY, Nov. 19. Tho conference between Mr Wade (the Premier) and the strike delegates did not take place to-day. Mr Hughes received a letter from Mr Wade expressing disappointment that medical advice prevented him seeing him today, but fixing a meeting for to-mor-row. Mr Wade suggests that the opinion of the miners in the different districts be taken whether they aro agreeable to .accept his proposals, adding that a ballot on the question would give a tnic indication : ,of. tho opinion of tho persons most, .vitally^conceriied. A meeting of the Northern colliery proprietors at Newcastle, accepted Mr Wade's proposal. that they should consent to meet men in- • conference simultaneously with a- resumption of work. The proprietors add a proviso that in the event of the conference not arriving at a settlement the-whole of the questions in dispute -be referred for adjudication under the Industrial Disputes Act. COAL FROM HOME. Received 10.25 p.m., Nov. 19th. LONDON, Nov. 19. Several cargoes of gas coal have been purchased at Newcastle-on-Tyne for Australia at 10s 6d and lis with freight at 12s 6d per ton. It is rumoured that a syndicate is .being formed on the Tyne to send large shipments to Australia. . It is also | reported that Cardiff is sending coal to New South Wales.

MINERS IN NO HURRY. A MASS MEETING. Received 11.55 p.m:, Nov. 19th. SYDNEY, Nov. 19. Tho secretary of the miners federation reforring to the northern proprietors' decision declared that the miners will not resume work without an unconditional conference. They arc not sueh fools even if a conference were granted to rush back without some guarantco that their grievances will bo redressed.

' lb is reported that tbo miners are willing if tlio proprietors agree upon a conference to send sufficient mon into tlie pits to thoroughly clean them and prepare for a, goneral resumption of work. Meantime the conference will have a chance to arrive at-a-basis of settlement on tbo main points of dispute. A mass meeting, of unions will be held to-morrow to discuss the situation.

Owing to an abnormal supply of firewood in Sydney prices slumped below tho usual rates. , .

The Casablanca has left Newcastle for New Zealand in ballast, no coal being available. Mr Wade's condition is a. little improved. The doctor will allow only a. twenty minutes' interview with the strike delegates to-morrow. After that no visitors will bo allowed for a considerable time.

SOUNDING SEAMEN. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 1!). \ telegram was received by the local branch of the Seamen's Union from the Union executive in Dunedin to-day asking if the .seamen engaged on tlie inter-colonial vessels would come out on strike if called upon m sympathy with tho Newcastle miners. ~ Uio otficials decline to givo any information hut it is understood that while some favoured a strike the majority were against it. A ballot is to be taken, commencing to-morrow.

MINERS AND SOCIALISM

A message from Newcastle to the "Argus" on tho 10th' iiist. included tho .following:— , , ■ ~ The speeches of .the leaders, particularly those delivered since the Broken Hill strike, have sown much dissension amongst the miners. Many of the men, who were nmto satisfied with their lot. have been thrown into a state, of discontent hy reckless socialistic sneoehes.- The miners, have been visited by speakers, r .Mf n^i,;R aint ?s' in glowing terms conditions that would obtain-*?, the priva„q emnlover could be done away with, with the result that many miners who previouslv led haony, contented lives, and centred a healthy interest m bringing up their families, as best they could, cultivating an attractive garden, and providing a comfortable home, have been induced to attend -meetings, at which tho speakers enlarge* '.on the rights of tho men to a percentage of the coal won. Tn a number of instances the nationalisation of the mines has been advocated, but as far as can bo gathered front conversation with the miners, this proposition does not find general favour. What the miners at Wallsend wore talking of was a co-operative mine, run by the federation. , "When we get a mine of our own. exclaimed a young miner, " we'll be all right." He was pressed for details as to what was proposed,, but he had. to admit his ignorance of the details. "All T know," he said, "is that the federation have u scliemo of that kind

in view. 1 know that, bccauso I'm a, delegate, and I've attended the meotings. But how it is to bo carried out or financed I don't think has been decided yet." Since the spread of socialistic ideas among the miners, many of them havo taken quite a new view of their position as workers. The extreme socialist wing of the miners is always on the lookout for some causo of complaint, and, as already stated, the majority of the others follow ' blindly. The bulk of the minors, to put the position in a nutshell, do not think for themselves. Instead, they aro content to follow the leader. If a plebiscite, were taken of the married men, it is considered car tain they would bo found against a strike, simply becau'se tliey realise tho hardships it will entail in their families.; but these _ men, although probably in a majority, do not care to stand out against the decision of the federation, and so, against their better feelings, they join tho strikers. THE CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME. AN "AUDACIOUS PROPOSAL." A message from Newcastle published in tho "Sydney Morning Herald" dated last Tuesday week, says: "Mr P. Bowling, the miners' president, has hit upon a daring and remarkable' scheme, which if successful will brine in its trail untold, misery and needless suffering to many thousands of workers who havo no interest whatever in the

Goal trade. Ho says lie can raiso £6OOO a week, and his proposal is no less than that the federation should gain possession of a certain colliery, work it in the mutual interests of tho federation and tho present proprietor with union labour, and sell the coal at the exliorbitant prices caused by tho stoppage of the output at the other mines. To use bis own words, he ha 9 "had for some years certain ideas as to a particular line of action which would enable tho federation to equip itself financially and otherwise so as to meet tho proprietors on fairly level terms." As the dicerent items of tho scheme are revealed it is shown that they havo secured (recognition from some mine owner or other, in, th© <• district, who has entered with Mr Bowling into what is almost a conspiracy against the public of New South "Wales to continue a disastrous strike. It is a significant fact that certain -men havnig an inside knowledge of this colliery's.affairs havo for the past three weeks been, buying up all available shares in the market. .It is also significant to note that this particular. colliery has : been , buying coal extensively, and has a large,stock on hand which it is easing off at high; rates. This all points to the fact that a select few t new of the impending strike, and that, one man. had .definite information as to the exact date of the upheaval, and laid his plans accordingly. ' . , The mine to which everything points as being concerned in this move has not been very extensively worked, and at oresent with one shift the output would make little impression on the market. If worked with three shifts, however, under tne .sanction of the Miners' Federation, it could without difficulty turn out 1000 tons a day, and perhaps more if required. This 'would mean at least 7000- tons a week, which would be transported to the. nearest inter-State ports whero the need for coal was most felt. Tho question of sea carriage was. looked to before the details wore arranged. This coal, at tho enhanced price caused by the strike, would be worth at the very least £2 rar ton. That would mean £14,000 a "week, out of which the proprietors of the mine would probably claim half, leaving a net amgaint to tho federation of £6OOO or £7000,, tho exact amount referred to by Mr Bowling This sum would allow the.federation to pay to its 9000 members which it has on the roll a sum of-wer 10s a week oach, and also provide a, fund for tho maintenance of some or tho workers who have com© out in sympathy with them. It will readily bo seen that the owners of the nuncin question would be procuring i-1-. a ton or more for their coal as against tho outside price of Us now obtained. Tbjiß would probably ensure 1 a very handsome profit, and probably accounts for tho eagerness of a certain small coterie who wero m the know to get hold of the sliares.

The strike of the '* colliers' was so unexpected that coal-users were .not at all prepared for it. The "Sydney Morning Herald" had the following on the effect of the strike <m the cold storage trade:—Force these works _tp shut down for want of fuel, and the whole dairying industry, the frozen meat trade/ and the export ot other perishable products arc inevitably brought to a standstill. Those who endeavour to precipitate such a crisis c o not. in their callousness attempt to calculate the cost in this direction, lo paralyse- the export trade m frozen produce is to strike a blow at every producer in the country. I< ortunatelv. the immediate prospect for the cold storage companies is not as gloomy as it might have been, but .with a general strike the situation m a montH or so would become extreme y critical. "I don't mind telling you,', said the manager of one of the largest freezing and export companies, "that we are in a hole. We hare some coal in stock, hut it won't carry us on long, and yo have got straight away to look round for more. It seems to me that .if tho strike leaders succeed in their con-, spiraey tho wh'olo- of the export trade will h'aro to close down very soon.