STAY-IN STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 245, 28 July 1937, Page 5

STAY-IN STRIKE

TROUBLE AT BROKEN HILL.

TWO HUNDRED UNDERGROUND.

DISPUTE OVER PIT PONIES

(united Press Association—Copyright.* SYDNEY, July 27.

Unrest in the coal industry was shown to-day when a stay-in strike began at the Broken Hill Proprietary's Burwood colliery, near Newcastle.

Two hundred underground workers 'complained of the poor quality of the pit ponies, and announced then* intention of remaining below until the dispute is settled. Their wives and friends attempted, lo send down food, but the company’s manager warned them to keep away. The miners’ representative also was not allowed to communicate by telephone with the men. Women attempted to make a demonstration, but the police dispersed them.

The conference of miners’ delegates with representatives of the Northern, Southern and Western mine-owners on the proposals for a new log opened today, but no decision was reached.

A conference on the lfiiners’ claims for increased wages and shorter hours of work—claim 9 based on the conditions at present existing in New Zealand—held on July 19, resulted in the rejection of the miners’ demands. The Broken Hill Proprietary, however, agreed to confer if the miners’ delegation would modify and revise its claims.