'IF HUNGRY, TAKE IT.'

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 663, 13 November 1909, Page 5

'IF HUNGRY, TAKE IT.'

COLLIERY CRISIS. I STRONG LANGUAGE OF MR. , BOWLING, j FIGHTING A>7 OCTOPUS. I (By Tclegraph-Proaa Aeeociation-OojjrlrtU ' (Eeo. November 13, 0.33 α-m.) x Sydney, November 12. Mr. Bowling, eocretary of tho Minors' Federation, in. a speech at Newcastle, declared that had the striko not been entered on at tho present time there would have been disaster. Miners and some of the smaller colliery ownore would havo been rqined.' Tho big companies and an emissary from England had, before the strike started, entered into a compact that vronld have placed tho Miners' Federation under tho heel oi the colliery owners, and given the whole power of the coal trade of the country into tho hands of a few men. One great swindle of the clique he referred to would have given them a profit of £100,000 in one grab. But tho clique had been beaten, and lost .£IOOO. Referring to the question of food supplies, Mr. Bowling said the men of tho district would not lot women and children starve He'need not toll' them how that' could be done, , nor could ho do better than repeat the words of Cardinal Manning to the London dockers: "If you aro hungry, take it.'f.Ho hoped they ftould sec that they got food for the wives and children. If the law stood in the way and meant hunger and starvation, then the law was unjust, Tho miners were fighting the battle of the pnblio, because they had entered on the strike so that thero might be kept away from Australia what was one of America's 'greatest curses: an octopus that had its grip op America to-day.

PROGRESS OF STRIKE MOVEMENT, PROPOSED CONFERENCE. (Roc. November 12, 8 pjn.) Sydney, November 12. The Zigzag miners have ceased work. This is the first western mine to join tho strike, Sydney, November 12. In response ito an invitation to participate in au open conference to redress existing grievances, the Western Colliery Proprietors stated that no grievances existed at Lithgow. The Miners' Federation officials state that tho requogt was not meant for a combined conference, bat for three separate conferences for , this throe mining districts. The Northern Proprietors meet at Sydney to-day to discuss the situation. Thero is reason to believe that they will insist upon rosumption of work as a primary condition of negotiations. (Rec, Novomber 12, 8 p.m.) Sydney, November 12. Tho Northern cool-ownore have decided to reply to the minors' request, agreeing to a conference if the men resume work within a week. If tho conference is »bortive, the .Northern owners ',are agreeable to jofer the grievances to tho Industrial Court. * THE GRIEVANCES, Sydney, November 12. The Minors' Delegate Board has iesued a statemont of tho grievances upqn which tho Newcastle etriko iras declared.. It covers the whole troubles of the Northern coalfields for several years. Many of tho points raised are of an intricate character. i SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT OF' OTHER , ' UNIONS. PROPOSED WATERSIDE STRIKE ALL ROUND. TO SEAL UP THE COMMONWEALTH PORTS.

■ '■■■'■''■■'■: . : .-■■'."' •'T\T?y , !n»yi; ; Npyomber' If!, , V :. A meeting of the'Sydney-Labour' l Council ondorsed , the strike,, and. gave iU approval to an extension of the movement if the pro'; prietors decline a conference. A mass meeting of waterside workers is caljed for Mondny.' The statement, is made that if the proposed conference fails, the' waterside workers from Brisbane to Perth will strike on Tuesday. ' Brisbane, November 12, At a meeting of watcrpido workers it ffas resolved to ceaso work if called upon.. Melbourne, November 12. Tho Trades' Hall Council carried a rosolution supporting tho Newcastle strike. ' ' ' ! THE BROKEN LAW. , ME. BOWLING ON JIB. WAGE'S '"BLijFF." Sydney, November 12. Air. Potor Bowling, the 'minors' secretary, referring to tho Government's proposed action, said the epoooh of the New South "Wales Premier, Mr, Wade, contained a throat in almost overy lino. He appeared to think that using threatening language and bluff might frighten them, but the' minorsvwere not , to bo frightened in that way. If Mr. Wade tpok action it would bo somewhere olso than at NoTfcnstio, and it would not be ono of tho minora who would bo first arrested, WOULD A FEDERAL COURT BE MORE EFFECTIVE? Melbourne, Novombcr 12. Mr. A. Etsher, ex-Fcdoral Premier and Labonr leader, referring in the Pouso to the Noraufle strike, advocated vesting tho powors for dealing with such matters , in tho Commonwealth, which was better able to deal with them than wero tho States. Mr. Dealrin, in roply, said ho was opposed to tho sweeping away of tho authority oxoreieed by tho State tribunals. SHIPPING AFFECTED. U.B.S. COMPANY'S STEAMERS LAID' UP. (Koc. Novomber 13, 0.55 a.ui,) _, Sydney, November 12. Tho steamer Star of Scotland has sufficient bunker coal to carry her to Now Zealand. . The Union Company hps decided to Jay np several steamers and curtail tho Tasmaniaa ser-

' . , Sydney, November 12. lac coastal steambhip companies havo followed the intor-Stato companies in raising freight* and fares. The Union Company and tlio lluddart-Parkcr lino anticipate little difficulty in securing coal. The Union Company has b stock of ttro thousand tons at Newcastle, which is reserved for the passenger sorvico. The stoppage of southern supplies is likely to seriously interfere with other companies, Fuel for domestic purposes is getting scarce, and stoppayo of work in a number of fir.iu is inevitable unless on early settlement takes place.

' •. ' Molbourne, November la. bcvoral mqro rtennera havo been placed out of commission, and others will be laid up ,« they arrive. Over three hundred shipping oni, ployees have boon already thrown but of m . plojmont. ° , The ltailway Commissioners, in order to reservo coal, are reducing the train otvli-m wherever- possible. m. it > „ Hobart, Novemner 12. lhe Union Company's etoamer Karitano hoa been ordorcd to Sydney, where she will bo laid up. , Coal In Tasmania is scarce, and a big rise in price is feared. Some mines have closed. WILL PRICES Rise' HEBE? Inquiries made by a reporter among merchants yesterday went to show thl? fi B «M'»lk« rotail cost of coal. v \a i hRt f ? lr] y I|C * V 7 st »oks wore being hold at-present. Then, had been a emit number of mauirips during the last few uayi. The minra had not boon workinir at top recently faqt no Ooulit V$d g bp & | UP f° n I°' » largcr -ostont "to meet the (lemttud for bunker coal purposes. For the S3? T* V r t '?°\ J it ffu not likely that S»; r ? te^keTU o i^^i«

. ' " '!■ . ■ 'I i I i 'l, woold w>t T» ineonveniencod at all, as had,; low or fise' months' requirements on nana. . ' y Mr. Pilchat, manager of the Tynerido Pn>[ ppotary, and Qraymouth , and Port Elisabeth Companion, wid that in hie opinion there! would be no increase in tho price of coal in tao immediate future, bui, of comae, there would be a bigjp&r demand for local coals. As to broker coal, existing contracts would bo supplied, but epociajl supplies would have to be anangKi for ot ex&» cost .If the state had fto offoct of diverting foreign-going vessels ,to I«sw Zealand, instead of Newcastle, tho pneo vrould naturally .riso, though . not w5" n ¥ s 9 xient H" ttowW th*t the West Coast minoa coald produce mow and tie extra.demand could bo met. Ho did not consider the prospect at oil (darning, but there wonld, of course, be a liWo pressure,