MINERS VOTE TO STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1949, Page 5

MINERS VOTE TO STRIKE

V / Gas To Again Be Rationed In Sydney - "" ^ SYDNEYj June- 16. The miners, at aggregate meetings throughout Australia today, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a general strike from June 27 in support of their claims for higher wages, shorter hours and more amenities. V. ' • In New South r Wales 5000 miners voted in favour ' Of a strike and 400 against. .The proportion was about the same in Quensland.- Only one miner in Victoria votOd agains); a- strike and in Tasmania th6 vote in' favour of a strike was nnanimous. Results: .from South Australia and West Australia- cannot affect the result. * •' * Gas will be rationed- in Sydney from 1.30 a.m. tomorrow. The, use 'of; gas^ wili probably be restricted to three periods each Aay for cooking meals. Aliners in .West Australia rejeeted

tne proposal by 112 to 3s and deeided to submit counter-proposals to the Aliners ' Federation. The Victorian Premier (Alr. Hollway) statfed today-. that Victoria planned to import 400-,000 tons of coal from overseas. Two extra shipments of Indian coal, totailing 15,000 tons, had been ordered and a further 150,000 tons was sought. The annduncement follows a break down in negotiations between Victoria and Queensland. "Victoria will obtain coal from every available sourcq at vvhatever cost, ' ' said Alr. Hollvvay. ' ' It other Australian Governments will not provide it we shall get it where we can. "I kno.w there -are influences at work' trying to restrict our supplies to a minimum. ' ' Aleanwhile, 7000 tons of overseas coal still lies in the holds ' of the steamer Haligonian Duke, which the watersiders refuse to unload beeause they allege she carries a non-union erew.