AT NEWCASTLE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14841, 5 December 1913, Page 7

AT NEWCASTLE.

POSITION REQUIRES CAREFU-i HANDLING.

CAUTION URGED

The position at Newcastle will require the most, careful handling or a serious crisis will be precipitated.

In connexion with the Government coal-loading cranes, the Chief Railway Commissioner, Mr T. R. Johnson, has threatened the instant dismissal of any man refusing to coal ships. A delegation of prominent commercial men interviewed the Commissioner and urged upon him the necessity for caution, pointing out that should the cranes cease working, th© whole of tho Northern coalfields, employing oveci twenty thousand hands, would probably b© thrown idle and fire added to the widespread discontent, _ The Commissioner agreed to visit Newcastle anjl enquire into th© position. Th© Labour Conference has sent Mr Watson, president of tbe Colliery Employees' Federation, to the Northern district 60 that his advice and judgment on th© situation will b© available on the spot. A meeting of the Wharf Labourers' Union on Tuesday night rescinded the previous decision to boycott all th© Union Company's boats, and endorsed the Conference policy to hold up tho company's vessels trading to New Zealand only.