The Domonion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1907. THE COAL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 4

The Domonion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1907. THE COAL STRIKE.

The great strike which has just commenced amongst the New South Wales coal miners is a lamentable movement from every point of view. The trouble _ traces back over a long period, but is more directly associated with the reeent agitation in connection with the coal vend, a combination on the part of the colliery proprietors to further their interests in the coal trade. It was generally recognised that the formation of the vend would enable the proprietors to deal more profitably with the product of the mines, and the miners in consequence showed themselves sympathetic with the movement, no doubt expecting to -benefit in turn from the improved financial conditions. Not were they altogether disappointed. The formation of the vend was followed by an increase in the price of coal, and also an offer of an .increase of 4(1.. ger ton in the hewing

rate paid to miners, the new rate to come into operation at the beginning of next year. According to a table of wages propared by the Northern Colliery Proprietors' Association from the paysheets at the various collieries, the wages averaged in July from 10s. 7d. to 13s. 2d.in August from 10s. Bd. to Ms. lOd.; in September from 10s. 3d. to 16s. lid.; in October from 10s. sd. to 15s. lOd. _ At some of the collieries the average is said to have been higher than the above. The increase of <kl. per ton would have meant an average addition of Is. 2d. per day to the wages of the mon. But the Miners' Committee was not satisfied with this amount, and demanded an increase of Bd. per ton. This the colliery proprietors refused, and the real trouble then commenced. Conferences held proved abortive, and new difficulties arose to confuse the issue and strain still further the relations of the two parties. A significant feature of the situation is recorded in the " Sydney Morning Herald " of last Saturday. The original claim of the men was for an increase of Bd. per ton in the hewing rate, but on Friday of last week the following resolutions airived at by the Miners' Management Committee were forwarded to tlie employers:—

That in view of tho attitude of the proprietors in locking out tho members of the Hobburn, Bunvood, Lambton B, and Northumberland lodgos, and also their attitude in regard to other grievances of tho Northern Extended, Rhonddn, Pelaw-Main, and Newcastle Company's machine men, and other abuses, we, as a committee, recommend that, until such disputes aro settled, we refuso to assist them to crush our follow-men. Wo thereforo refuso to continuo working any longer under tho circumstances. That, if before Tuesday, the proprietors roinstato tho men not in dispute at ELcbburn, Burwood, Lambton B, and Northumberland, and also agroo to an umpire to bo appointed, along with a committeo of three from each side, to settlo tho grievances enumerated, wo recommend tho continuanco of work.

This decision oil the part of the men is regarded as a tactical movement intended to place the colliery proprietors at a disadvantage, inasmuch as it puts on their'shoulders. the onus of having commenced the conflict by locking out the nten in the mines mentioned. The facts relating to the lockout are not clear. In the. Hebburn mine some of the men refused to continue work' on account of some- real or imaginary danger due to the bursting of a cable, and the owners thereupon closed down the whole of the mine workings. They deny a lock-out, and assert that the allegation is made merely with the object of enlisting sympathy for the strikers. The whole situation is full of grave possibilities. Already scores of vessels are lying idle through hick of coal cargoes, .industries are being crippled,, and besides the miners out on strike thousands of workers in various employments, directly or indirectly dependent on the coal supply, have their livelihood threatened. So far as the figures go the facts appear to be against the strikers. There was a general strike of the miners in Newcastle in 1896. The men were then being paid 3s. per toil; hewing rate, and they struck for 3s. 6d., and after a struggle extending over three months they resumed work at 2s. lid. Now they are receiving 3s. 10d., with a guarantee of 4s. 2d. on January 1, and they demand 4s. 6d. Many of the miners affected voted against a strike on the present occasion,, memories of the sufferings and hardships endured in 1896 no doubt helping to influence their judgment, but they were in a minority. There is one aspect of the strikers' attitude deserving of commendation, and which may in -the end lead to a settlement of the trouble. They show a.willingness to refer the matter to arbitration. The employers are opposed to this course at present, on the ground that previous agreements arrived at have been broken by the men; and because of the difficulty, of securing as an umpire in the matter an outside person who, as one employer put it, " could fully appreciate what he might call the ' atmosphere' of the coal trade." They were to meet again to-day, however, to further consider the matter, and for the sake of all concerned it is to hoped that some satisfactory compromise will be arrived at. Just prior to our going to press, news comes to'.hand that Mr. Wade, Premier of New South Wales, had announced his determination to adopt heroic measures, if necessary, and compel the parties to resort to arbitration. In view of the far-reaching effects of the strike, and the great hardship it would necessarily impose upon thousands of disinterested persons, there is little doubt that he would be strongly backed by the weight of public opinion in this extreme but justifiable action.