AUSTRALIA’S COAL IMPASSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18519, 17 March 1930, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S COAL IMPASSE.

Attempts To Open Mines. REDUCED WAGES OFFERED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received March 16, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 16. The Minister of Mines (Mr Weaver) assures the coal-owners that they will be perfectly within their rights in reopening the mines at reduced rates, as it has already been held by Judge Beeby that the award under which the miners were working, prior to the dispute, has long since expired. He pointed out that the coal-miners were controlled by a special tribunal, the chairman of which was Mr Justice Hibble, and his last award had expired some time before the present trouble began, since which time the owners had been compelled to concede whatever variation the miners’ officials had demanded.

MEN OFFERING FOR WORK. RESPONSE “EXTREMELY SATISFACTORY.” (United Press Association—By Jllectrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received March 17, 12.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 16. A statement issued by the colliery proprietors, describes the response by former employees and Broken Hill miners, to their appeal for labour for the idle northern collieries, as extremely satisfactory. A meeting of owners will be held at the end of the week to decide which mines will be re-opened. Meanwhile it is expected that numbers of miners who left the coalfields owing to the prolonged dispute, will \ave applied for work.

MEN SEEKING WORK. COAL OWNERS’ DILEMMA. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, March 15. Applications for work in the northern collieries have been received in sufficient numbers to render possible the opening of some of the mines. Canberra messages, however, state that the coal owners may be compelled by the Federal Cabinet to observe the aw r ard or pre-stoppage rates in any offers of employment. It is said that the owners have made the present move acting on advice that the award is illegal, and this aspect is being feverishly investigated by the Attorney-General’s Department.