NEARLY A CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 683, 7 December 1909, Page 7

NEARLY A CRISIS.

WATERSIDE WORKERS. MEETING PREPARED TO "DOWN TOOLS." DISSUADED BY MR. HUGHES. (By Telegraph,-Press Association.-CoojrlibU (Reo. Dcoember 7, 0.40 a.m.) Sydney, December 6. An important mooting of tho waterside workers hold .to-night expressed confidence in the: Strike - .Committee, and resolved to: con-1 tinne work. '- -'V; /.There was : a: strong feeling at the outset to, "down tools," but Mr. W. M. Hughes (President.of tho. Watersido Workers'- Union) succeeded in convinoing them that it was better to continuo work. THE CONSPIRACY CHARCES. ACCUSED BAILED OUT. CASE FOUNDED ON STRIKE ■■ DECISION. ■ . Sydney, December G. • Mr. W. M. Hughes, chairman of tho Waterside,' Workers'; Federation, and spokesman- 1 oi the; Strike .Congress,; declares that - the arrests of Mr. Peter Bowling, (the miners' leader), and two other Minors' Union officials (Messrs. Brennan and'. Burns),will enormously complicate the situation. . ... . - Tho ' offence • (conspiracy) with. which ; the arrested men are chaiged is alleged to have been committed on November 5. This was the. date on' Vhioh-llui- minors' '.delegates', board recommended the strike. Tho police visited tho Trades Hall and secured a large number, of doouments and a minute-book relating.,'to;.,tho.. on November 5. - All the leaders arrested were;; bailed 'out Within a.few.hours,• A.mass meeting of miners was subsequently'held at Newcastle. It was addressed by Mr. Bowling and othor leaders. A motion condemning the Government's action was carried. Everything passed off qutetly. r -V'.;;';;v-!''-"'; : ', : '::'.;'.-.\''i; " V I: The Railway and Tramway Association has I refused to countenance a general strike-mania lor tho. Bowling .type of- leader. In voting money for' strike jrarpeses the. Association has . it. car-marked for specific use. .v V

REMANDED. . : ANOTHER- OFFICL\L ARRESTED. (Rec. December .6,'10.50 p.m.) _ ■ . • Sydney, December 6. = Mr. Lewis,-treasurer of the "Northern Miners' has"; also been' arrested. V ; .Those union officials who were' anested on Saturday appeared at, the Newcastle' Court, and were remanded'till to-morrow. A FALSE ALARM , (Reo. December 6, 10.50 p.m.) Sydnoy, December 6. -■! A: strike -bconrred /at Dorset .owitig-' to misapprehension on the part of the men. that' a general strike tad been ordered. They resumed work this afternoon.