LABOUR CONFERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 7

LABOUR CONFERS.

6 OWNERS' OFFER. A CONFERENCE IF WORK IS RESUMED. MEN STILL CONSIDERING. (Djr TeleeraDb.-l'rois A««ociniiott.-OoMH«IiU Sydney! November 13; A congress of delegates from the thrco mining districts is being hold to-day. to consider the decision of tho northern proprietors (who have ( agreed to meet the miners' 'representatives in conference if tho men resume work within a week). The prospects of the'congress falling in with tho suggestion to resume work pi iparatory to a conference aro considered very unlikely. 'SOME HITCH. (Hoc. November 15,. 0.45 a.m.) Sydney, November. 14. Yesterday's conference of the labour dolegatos lasted late into tho night. Although no official information as to the result is obtainable, there is reason to beliovo that some disconcerting development occurred , at the conference, rendering it .necessary to again confer with the executives of the various 'unions roprcsented. After this has boon done I tho conferenco will bo resumed to-morrow aftornoon. It is rumoured that the attitude of tho Seamen's Union may mean a strike not to extend beyond this State. Mr. Bowling, minors' secretary, has returned j to Nowcastlo, presumably to confor with tho , Miners' ■ Executive. PROGRESS OF STRIKE MOVEMENT. ALL SOUTHERN MEN OUT. Sydney, November 13. The. Mount Keira miners, laid down their tools last night. All tho southern minors aro now out. An aggregate meeting of the wostern minors decided to coaso work immediately. It is expected that all pits will be idle to-day. At the coke works at Bulli and Dellambl the men have been paid off and the works olosed. The outlook is considered anything but hopeful, and fears of a goneral strike are- inoreasing. The strike leaders state that tho object of a general strike is to rouse public opinion to' coerce tho mine-owners. ATTITUDE OF OTHER UNIONS. MR. BOWLING SATS THEY WILL STRIKE IF CALLED. OFFERS FROM NEW ZEALAND/ . Sydney, November 13. Mr. Bowling, secretary of the Miners' Federation, expressed tho opinion that tho waterside and other unions would come i out if called.

The spirit of unification amongst the unions was, he said, never 60 strong as to-day. Nothing would bo done, to hurt the public that could bo avoided, but it was a fight for supremacy, and the unions must have all the power they could get. Mr. Bon ling mentioned that he had offers of assistance v from all parts of Australia and Now Zealand, PROPOSED WORKING OF,MINES. UNIONS' PLANS. Sydney, November. 13. Among Othor matters to be considered at to-day's congress of delegates from the three cool-mining districts is Mr. Bowlipg*B scheme for working a colliery" or colliories by the :Miners'.Federation. The pits mentioned are the Young Wallsend and the Ebbw Vale Negotiations are in progress and it is understood that stops towards completing the agreement uro well advanced. , ,„»»-. Addressing the Hctton Lodge, one 1 of tho delegates'announced that the minors wcro not going to allow anyone to try to work tho mines. CAN THE STATE WORK THE COALP I ■ Melbourne, November 13. . Askod in the Toderal House whethor ho had not power under tho law of Eminent Domain ' to work tho mines, as President Roosevelt intended to do at one time in America, tho Prime Minister. (Mr. Dea-kiri) stated that the law of Eminent 'Domain did not exist to the same oxtent in Australia as in America. Tho Commonwealth Govornment, : Mr. Deakiri said, had not control'ovor lands as the American Government had. , [Eminent Domain is tho right which overy State or Sovereign Power has to use tho property of its Citizens for tho common welfare This right is the true foundation of tho right of taxation.] CONSUMERS' STANDPOINT. POSSIBLE IMPOSTS OF JAPANESE COAL. Sydney, November 13. Reports from other States indicate that the ' effects of tho strike are becoming serious. In Molbourno thoro is an increasing tendency to reduce the number of hands employod in the large manufacturing and commercial establishments All existing coal supply contracts in Melbourne terminated josterday, the contractors taking advantage of the striko clauses in the agrcemonts , Tho Australian Paper Mills Proprietary has closed its works at Melbourne and Gcolong, on aocount of lack of coal. , The offocts of the striko are being severely felt at Newcastle. Tho export of coal during the week just.ended amounts to 1800 tons, as compared with 10,000 tons in the previous week and 80,000 tons for the corresponding week laßt year, Tho general trade Of tho town is ftt a standstill. Advices received at Sydney 6tate that a shipment Of coal has already loft Hong-Kong for Australia, and quotations ore being received from Nntal and Japan foi cargoes delivered within a month. Durban, November 13. (Roc. Novoraber 14, 5,5 p.m.) Numerous Australian orders and inquiries for coal shipments have been rccoived by Natal collieries, but all orders have been declined, owing to shortago of labour and tho heavy bunker, trade. . London, November 12. At a conference of tho leading bultor and rabbit. importers and agents, anxiety was expressed as to the result of tho Nowcastlo strike, and the possibility of lessened supplies being followed by the marketing,. of ' accumulated stocks, Though most of the ci.f. contracts contain a strike clause, the results of delaying shipments would be disastrous. Thero is a genoral absenco of definite comment on the Australian strike, because tho causes are unknown.

INTERCOLONIAL FARES TO BE RAISED. . ! UNION: COMPANY'S.' PLANS. -': '■■■~ (By Telegraph-I'ross .. Auoolatloit.) ;'.■'■'■ \. '": ' .'... ; Dunedih, November '14. ..An, advance in intercolonial fare 3 of 10 per cent,, and in freights of 25, per : cent' bringing theohargos into lino with-those ruling in the inter-State -sorvioes of the Commonwealth, is contemplated; by < the Union Company as a result of the coalmining strike in Australia, but the dat? from which the scale shall oomo into operation has not been fixed. yet, .'as further .developments may make the change unnecessary, '. Should the strike last long, however, the difficulty .'and increased cost of getting coal and the general disorganisation of trade will probably;make, the imposition Of inoroased onargos unavoidable. The mines,on the West Coast of ■ New Zealand are doing , all. they can to supply "the sudden demand made upon them, and quantities of. coal from Westport are being stored at Wellington, v where the Melbourno-Bluff-Cootc Strait-Sydney; steamers will coal. . ■,•■,■■;■'■ VItJ is not thought that the intercolonial 6«rvloeil will have to bo reduced, but a reduction has I already: been, "made .in the iTasinankm eorvioen.; :By the .permission of- the-Bostm&stor-Goneral,.', the' Lbongana,limningbetween Lauhcoston ; and Melbourne, is maidng, fewer trip*, and,; the Hobart-Sydney irade, carried on 'hitherto.'conjointly by the Huddart-Parker Proprietary; and the'union Company, is being hy one of the comijaim. '; •