MARKING TIME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 668, 19 November 1909, Page 7

MARKING TIME.

PROPOSED CONFERENCE AND RETURN TO WORK. STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY,UNIONS. (By Teleßraph.-PrcEß Association-Copyright.) (Rec. November 10, O.fi a,ra.) Sydnoy, November 18. No important strike developments occurred to-day. Tho Strike Conferewo dieonsecd various niattois relating to organisation, including Mr. Bonling'e scheme for taking- over and working corlain mines, and tho offer of the Australian Woikors' Union, tlie largest labour organisation in tlio Commonwealth, to support tho strike financially or otherwise. This afternoon, Mr. W. M. Hughes, president of tho Waterside Workers' Union, interviewed Mr. 'Wood, chief secretary, in place of Premier Wado (who is sick), and informed him that tho answer previously formulated by Hio secretary of tho Strike Conference—informing . the Pmanier that tho Conference could not accept hie proposals for a conference conditionally on the men returning to work—wae not to bo regarded as final. Tho con<raunioa< tioa was dispatched prior to thematter being finally rctfomd to the pxeoutjvo, who had decided to suspend judgment until tho matter was referred to the executive of tho Northern Minors' Federation. This wae done to-night, and to-morrow tho executive's decision will be conveyed to tho Premier. SHIPPING OUTLOOK. (Eeo. November 19, 1.5 a.m.) Sydney, November 18. Tho Orient Company (Which holds the mail contract with the Australian Government) has 10,000 tons of coal on tho water, and will oon> fcmue its mail serrico unimpaired, A liner in.port has refused a largo shipment of frozen meat, and declines to >handlo tho cargo till.the outlook is more settled. REDUCED SERVICE ON VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. Melbourne, November 18. Tho Viotorian Government has decided to run a reduoed train in order to coneervo the stocks of'coal. "EVERY PhOSPECT OF A STRIKE." AT THE STATE COAL MINE! PERSISTENT RUMOURS OF TROUBLE. (By Tclejraph-l'rcjj Association.! Greymouth, November 18. There are persistent rumours that trouble is imminont at the State collieries, and a wellinformed authority informs the "Argue" representative that ho will be surprised if tho men go to work on Monday. There is, he states, 6vory prospect of a strike, and the miners have decided to have no moro conferences with the manager. < s NATIONALISATION. ' THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST IT.' (By Toleßraph-Presa Ajeoclatlon-Oopyrliht) , - Sydnoy, November JB. i The Premier, Mr. Wade, was asked in the Stato Assembly if ho had any information in connection with the reported trouble, at -the New Zealand Stato colliery. , >'~;' Mr. Wado replied if tho statement that there was troublo was true, it was far moro eloquent than any argument that could bo used against tho nationalisation' of mines. ,WESTPORT'S CHANcTtO SUPPLY GAS COAL. NO EXPORTS TO NEW SOUTH WALES. (By Teleeraph-Preea Association) Dunodin, November 18. In conversation with a "Daily Times" representative to-day, Mr. Joachim, general manager of the Westport Coal Company, stated that the company did not intend to send any coal to Newcastle. It had moro than it could do to supply local demands. Tho gas companies, which, formerly used Newcastle and Westport coal, waa'liow depending &n',tho,lattef> o6mi' pany entirely, and the same remarks applied to tho Homo steamship lines and other customers. -; Peopjo hod complained! when pany knocked off a thift at Granity that tfewcastle coal was'competing unduly and throwing men* out of work. Opportunity now presented to' regain What had been lost, and if the miners supported tho, company, it might bo able to find full employment for all the men available. It is stated that several-manufacturing-firms in Wellington have'purchased unusually largo stocks of coal within the Inst week.