42,000 MEN INVOLVED IN INDUSTRIAL CRISIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 1

42,000 MEN INVOLVED IN INDUSTRIAL CRISIS.

STOPPAGE OF WORK IN MINES AND METAL TRADES ALMOST INEVITABLE IN N.S.W., VICTORIA AND TASMANIA.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received April 29, 9.55 a.m.)

SYDNEY, April 29. As a result of the coal conference adjourning sine die, stoppages at collieries throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania appear inevitable. When the ultimatum expires on May 8, besides making 12,000 engine-drivers idle, it will involve about 30,000 miners and operatives.

The cause of the breakdown of the conference was the claim of the employees for the restoration of certain marginal differences, which were lost under the Ilibble Award. The men demanded that the owners should grant the margins to them. The owners refused, but stated that they were prepared to allow the matter to go before a special tribunal.

The men's representatives refused this offer. Mr Justice Hibble in a statement at the conclusion emphasised that the award did not in one single instance reduce wages or lower conditions. On the contrary the owners had given substantial increases of from a shilling to Is 6d daily, besides in many respects improved working conditions. It was true that the full marginal differences between the base rates and the higher-paid men had not been maintained as, in the cir-

cumstances, it had been found impossible to do so. He warned the enginedrivers that their contemplated action was quite illegal. Notwithstanding the fact that fourteen days’ notice had been given, the notices should be withdrawn and proper constitutional measures relied upon. The men working under Federal awards in the metal trades are in no way perturbed by the threatened action of the employers over the fortyfour hours* decision. The men are absolutely determined to continue under the present conditions and state that if the employers put their threat into effect it will amount to a lock-out and will therefore constitute a breach of the Crimes Act. They say that Federal awards prescribe that not more than forty-eight hours shall be worked and do not prevent the men working less than forty-eight.