ARE MINERS WEAKENING?

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1949, Page 5

ARE MINERS WEAKENING?

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Sigus Of Growing Opposition To Strike

Covvriaht )

Received Friday, 10.40 a.m. SYDNJSY, July 21. The newspapers today fegtupe stpr-xes elaiming that' " there are strong signs among the' miners of ihcreasing opposition towards the strike. ^ ■ • • , Meetings at; Singleton and Mus1 we.l Brook, whichi refu'sed tp allow Communists to speak, and which voted for a' sMtlfement of the claims by arbi'tration and the cabljng of aggregate meetings, are regarded as most signiflcant; as both towns are centres of open cut mining. Growing opposition to the strike amOng miners there has been increased by the threat to. their permanent occupations extended by the Government move to work open outs, and by suggestions that rival Australian workers' unions may be invited to work the open cutjs. Surprising Feature. dprrespondents regard it as surprising that the gaoling of the j Waterside Workers' Federation officials, Mes^rs. J. Heaiy and E. Roach, ! for contempt of court yesterday proyoked no . spontaneous demonstration by the watersiders. It is -recalled that when IVIr. J_. iyiacPhilj.iips yras sentenced .to six months' pimprisohment for a similar offence ,on July 8 the watersiders w'alked ,off the ships in Sydney Harbour and marched tljr.ough the streets of Sydney. to dem'onstrate outside the courtroojn. The action by tjie Brisbane watersiders- who - - left their/ ship wheh news. of flje-.fentence. ,was received was stated to" be unofiicial, and the men were ordered by their union to resume work until 'a stopwork meeting was called.