FORBIDDEN STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 662, 12 November 1909, Page 7

FORBIDDEN STRIKE.

NEWCASTLE STRUGGLE, THE POSITION .IN' OTHER DISTRICTS. OWNERS GIVE WAY AT. CLIFTON. ; (By Telegrajb-Prcai Aaaostatlon-Oopjrrleht.l , ~'■■'•' . Sydney,. Novombor 11. . Delegates from the Newcastle, miners' lodges arc visiting the western districts. ..Though no move has been made Jet, it is believed that the western, miners are prepared to join in the strike. \ ; ■■,■•' ': ■•.. ''...■■■.■' The position in the southern districts Iβ not improved by the faot ,that one of the Clifton colliery prosecutions (in which 187 miners were oharged with absenting themselves from work) has gone against the .men. Tho' decision oaos«l. considerable excitement and angry scenes. Sabsequently it was announced that the company, had agreed to the dismissal of ell the remaining charges, with 10s. expenses to oaeh man. : • ■. ' . . • , The Mount .Pleasant colliery, on* or the eouthem group, has ceased working. The miners at the Curleiria pit, Gunnedah, have struck. The • Mount ■ Keira miners : have decided to continue work till'Mday, but'the wheelers declare that they will not start todoy. ■■;■■.' .'..!.: '■'.■■■•■ :'

SOUTHEEN EMPLOYEES STAND OUT. / (Eec. November 12, 0,10 a.m.) :, Sydney, November 11. ■ Tlio Boutliorn coal-owners have declined to participate in a conference. Their reason is that they could not recognise and declined to meet in conference reprobctttatives of bodice of omployors with whom they had no business' connection, or bodies of employees employed in another district, with whom they had nover stood in the relation oi omployer and employee. Further, the Southorn Association had always been ready to meet its own employeus in conference, but h&d consistently declined to deal with a matter in dispute so long as tho men were outside the pale of the law by being on strike. , SUPPORT FROM"OTHER UNIONS. ' WATERSIDE WUEKEES. , Sydney, November 11. The Wharf Labourors' Union held a mootmpr, and considered the request of the Federated Council of Waterside Workers to strike it tailed upon. Though tho press was excluded, it is understood that the mooting decided to ' strike if the call came, \ Other waterside unions are marking time, pending developments,, STOREMEN~TO~ STRIKE. (Ecc. November 11, 11.65 p.m.) , 1 Sydney,, November 11. The United Storemon's Union has decided to strike on Tuesday , in support of the,miners, GOVERNMENT AND THE LAW. LABOUE SATISFIED WITK ME. WADE'S STATEMENT. Sydney, November 11, Tho statement made in the State Assembly by tho Premier, Mr. Wado-in which he intimated that the Government would not tako aotion against tho striking miners under the penal clauses o£ tho Industrial Disputes, Act if nn amicable settlement was likely to bo arrived at, but that tho Government \fould do ite duty withont shrinking if a desire was shown to spread trouble throughout the community, and to wage war upon tho public— was commented on in the Assembly by the Lender l of the State Labour party, Mr. STGowcn. ■ • ' ' '

Mr. M'Gowen congratulated Mr. Wade on his decision to await tie issuo of the pfopoeed iouferenco between the owners and tho minora before making any move, but eaid lie feared the reference to penalties might be taitcn a> a">thmt. ■ ' v '!' f -! '-''WXV , Mr. Patorson, president of tho Miners' Fcdoration, on tho whole approves the Goteminent decision, iia it will throw tho respond bility' for subsequent evehts upon the proprietors. So declared that tho men would '«• main qnict unless "blacklegs" were introduced. TEE FEDERAL COURT ALERT. Melbourne, November 11 The Registrar of the Commonwealth. Arbitration Court is watching the strike carefully. If it tttends beyon'a New South Wales he will | bring it before the Court tn the publio in- j I tercet, BISfl IN SmPPiNGTsATES AND COAL i PRICES. '* Melbourne, November 11. The Steamship Owners' Federation has decided, in consequence of tho dislocation el trade caused by the Newcastle strike, to in. crease inter-State freights by from 2s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per ton, and passenger rates by 10 per centum. '' •■ • Tho price of coal is increased by £1 a ton from to-day. Sydney, November 11. Up to £1 a ton was paid yesterday for bunker coal at Sydney. _ , MINERS' PLAN TO WORK COLLIERIES OUTSIDE THE VEND. Sydney, November 11. With reference to tlio scheme of tbe Miners' Federation to arrange with certain, owners ol coal mines outside tho Coal Vend, in ordor. to work the coal with the object of providing strike funds, it is now stated that tho plan proposes the taking over of tiro collieries. MR, BOWLING'S THREAT.

trouble' to reach every state. Only a few premonitory eymptoms of tho impending labour trouble wluch lias now been precipitated appear in tho Sydney papers to hand by mail. Tho following from the Bydne) "Daily Telegraph" throws a light on the I organisation and preparation of the miners | tor ft great struggle.— "The recent amalgamation of, the colliory workers in tho northern, western, and southern districts, and tho subsequent organisation of a central council, including representatives not only ot the collieries throughout tho State, but of tho waterside-workers, who. nre fftilni , - atod throughout Australia, is recognised as the most important more in the fhnvtion cf militant unionism that has yet occurred in tho coalmining districts. Then the Clifton trouble has appealed to the miners as a direct blow at tlio organisation of thoir fcllowworkers "u tho south. . Tho coinbi.iv.ion «f the Waterside Workers and Colliery Employees was recognised by { tho' officials of the Miners' I'ederation as being absolutely necessary it any future strike was to be brought to a successful issue. ' "Air. Bowbng, at the aggregate tnooting, whon resolutions vrero carried, authorising the consummation of the combination, declared that when trouble next occurred, capitalists wo'uld remember it not only in New South Wales, but in every State of tho Commonwealth. It is certain that many of tho officials of he Miners' Feat-atio'i would wolccuio a strike at the present juncture, as it would tend to cement some of the internal differences which lately have become manifest• to the'outeido world. Here will lie n> , strilw, hnw>ver, unless it is certain that tho miners will bo backed by other unions whoso' interests are alto involved." '

WILL ;.NEW -ZEALAND; PRlfcE? RISE? The posßibility, of a ehortage in coal in Wellington and other New. Zealand centres through the Newcastle strike ;has occurred to soino people, in the-traao here. Qno authority states that if the,strike continues on "the other.eide". tho price of coal, must goup in Now Zoaland, and. possibly there will be, a serious shortage. Ho bases this statement on the fact that many inquiries for coal cargoes ' at advanced rates have already been received by coal companiee in Now-Zealand, and ho had received cabled inquirios asking bioOif he could secure cargoes for "fcottome",which wonld'bo sent along on receipt' of cable npwe that he could supply. Unfortunatoly he cbold not. "All tho mines.on the West Coast', were working up. to theii; full strength, and all the 'domand ■in the world could not make much imptewion'on tho outEut, unless. moro ;dovolopmeKt work was done, [e understood the price of tanker coal was it> be raised shortly. , .':''.':/:. .-:■:■ :, ■; ,' ■' ;■■ Our. inforindnt basiss' Vα' cftnclitsion that.ii the strike is protracted the prlc« of coal C)net no Up on the daniaiid over and above noma! Jtie*,.will s be :oftde oa; N<w Ztakni eteualas

coat on tlio intercolonial steamers, which, ae a ■■'■:■■< rule, coal at Newcastle, and tho cargo : Btcamv' ; ■:. : rs that trado from Australia to London via .. !ape Horn, which, as etockeget lower, in Syd-' ' ley and Melbourne, must fill their bunkers; in > ■ few Zealand ports. Far from thero boiiig a ... ■ alling-olf in the importation of Nowaaetl* coal ~ nto New Zealand, our informant states that learly 300,000 tons.were imported last year—a \ coord. He was of opinion-that more Newcastle oal was landed iuWellingtoti than in any ..; ither>port. It was favoured in some of the ■•. itty works,,a good deal woe Bold in.the coun." : ry towns, , and mixed with native coal (one of; ' Newcastle far.two:of native) gave excellent;rei,, «lts in gas-maWnn. ' " ■ v ■ ■[:■;'■■ ''.'■ ■■:';',■■..'|'.'•■:::■- The etatomont that all the mines on th* J Vest Coaet were working full timo'is hardly h BCoord with the complaint' voiced in the ,-, louee on September 3 about tlie Mailway, Uo«; ■ lartment using Newcastle coal when, imnefl) v rero being dismissed on' the West: Coast .ow« ; ' ng to the scarcity of, orders. In reply, th« : : lon. J. A! Millar explained that the coal;•",. ffoducers in . New Zealand (inolnaini} . the:; itdtc) -were not keeping paw with the oifiere . tiven by the Department. Ha went on to t&r;' hat the Dopartincilt h\d.token'all the o«u: hat the Weetport Company had boob able t0,,;. upply. Of 8000 toiie ordered since July, only •■ 620 tons had been Bent forward. In regard % o the State Department, lie mentioned .that, ;.,'■ t hod oflly delivered 11,131; tens out ot. h ,;, otal order of 70,450.t0n5. Mr.' Millar also eaid;/ hat the Department ie obliged touse Ecreejtod.; ; oal, and to have titloast'toee /months' ;> ; tooks in hand. Newcastle coal would, he. Bβ-: v erted, not be taken if New Zealand coaUworft ■',••;. .veAlable.. He, added , . "It we Studied the; qnef.;. ion of • economy only 'in.'running, the ■■■:-■ tail- '■;■-■: ,ays, I have no hesitatkin in Saying that the: v'i ise of Newcastle coal alone would'■,be .more ;:' instable from the railway point,of,view|>Wlt: •« don't look at it from that point of View to.-f,.; he fullest exteilt; as we believe in usintt all Vt' he looal coal that i& available, and 6Urthble\or our purposes." , • ■■■.'"■.■■■,•;.,,;■' k'vl-.-vJv- .;:';;;'■.;'■■'