STRIKE SENTENCES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 703, 31 December 1909, Page 5

STRIKE SENTENCES.

TIME TO *PAY. IE SECESSION LEADERS ACTIVE ADDRESSES IN THE SOUTH. TelograDli-PreSßAeaoolallon-OoDvrlElit. (Rcc'December 31, 0.35 n.m.) Sydney, December SO. n connectiqn with. the decision of tho irthorn miners to secede from tho ike Congrofa and to set up a Strike ngress of thoir own, Mr. Bowling and ier Secession leaders are addressing ctings of the Southern miners. Much deponds,on whether the Southii irinere, who, like tho Western mini, Etrnck in sympathy with tho Northl n<en, will or will not return to work. io Western miners havo already rerned to work.) JUDGE'S REMARKS. W THE MINEBS UECEIVED THE SENTENCES. Sydney,' December 80. In imposing a fine of ,£IOO (in default o sionths' imprisonment) on! each ol ivtcen members of tho delegates' board tho Colliery Employees' Federation a chargo laid under,Section 12 of tht dustrial Disputes Act, of incting tht en of the Newcastle nnd Maitland di& icts to strike, Judge Heydon said tho men possesset c confidence of their fellows. Theii isition was an houoarablo one, but ii ses of this kind that was an aggrava jn of the offenco rather than a mitiga m., They wcro accused of influencini eir fellows against tho law, and the; uld not have done so if they were no en whom their fellows trusted.' The , id used their qualities to fight thl mmunity and bring about a calamit; tho country, .and they could not ao? ate a poor month when the facts wen •ought home to thorn. Ho could not se s way to reduco tho fine of .£IOO, bu ould allow a month, in which to pay. A number'of the men refused tho ton ■ssion, preiorring gaol, but after con ilting thoir counsel agreed to acccp mo to pay. /ill the miners pay the fines envoy's View. fR. M'WrELIAMS QN THE CRISIS Havmg come direct from the midst o io ooal-miuers' strike at Newcastle, fo io purpose of getting relief money •om the workers of , New Zealand, Mi amos .M'Willinme, vice-president of tb few South Wales Colliery Employees oderation, had somo interesting infoi lation to givo regarding the prcEen osition of things. • A Great Strike. "It is a striouß strike/' he said to sprcsentative of The Dominion, "and, i othing unforeseen liappene, I think i 111 devolop into what' will bo one of th litest fclriJces that have ever cricneed iu Australasia, or south, of th dn«. 1 hoi's is sumo hardship in Nev astle, but we would .liavd poverty ove E tho mines.n'ere working,, Wβ kiu ad generous help from all eidos. . umber of the Newcastle ■ merchant Mined- themselves into what ie called th lorthern District . Belief Society, an hoy have pledged themsjlvcs to give siil tannal sums, w«ekly, Women > wer hosen in tho various districts to inal house-to-house canvass and note tl lOpds of the people. Whero distress w< vident, tho woman agent would wril ut an order, on the grocer, or baker, c mtcher, for what she" deemed neccssai n tho house, and tho goods'would'l [elivorcd noe of charge. All accouni .re root; by,'.tho society. 'Prior fq my departure for New Zei and, a distribution o£ lOsj per lien fas about to be mado to the 10,0( trikers. , That .was a matter of £500 ind, jnst.'.aS; the federation funds: Ore: x*ag : :.'&fbvrp). uponi; a ,: cheque', for lilßie in fr'oni an ; .anonymous ■ eourov ;'%';fo«ld'; surprije : iyou,!! ; : c6htinuf fev-M'WiHiams, ''to :s<& Newcastle, i lay. But "for the number tif unemployo nen.talking ■ about.;;you would >■ nevi mow. j;hat :a strike is';on; ■;' The men Ipi ithlebo'j competitio'ils, , ; cycling and : ii\ •aces.'ipr; prizes : by-'.the pubt! UioLjbbncovts .tothei.oMiilings.v ■■. -.' *■'■:-.■) : ( ■ ::. •':_-■■■ Theyi'KneviifTheiripahper.;':.- !'■.;"■■ "Vfo wont into. ;,the, : . strike with : 'our'ey'( ipfeUj'iaiid did "not Slead-ignorjlnce of tl .aw. ■Wβ knew; that #b'. were breaking :tl aw, and'.wo took prceiwtibtis according] Some. of: onr t , meetings. were' held boKr ocked doors, and we had lin insido H )trfeide,rguardian.:, The police 'were v o rayiS- hovering l 'round; 'and:-inany 6f'. \ Hpected to be , , apprehended .anV minut S.utf.we': had • made nrrangeinenta , tUitt the: polite did interfere.,; and; tho\chai nan vwas. arrested, ■ anotler; mtui. , . wou! take the and if he went, also third man; had: already been chosen; ,Y took care., npt to::carry..letters' or meme ffithy us; nt any; ■ time, .-and: all' r cd|i spondunco; iras. prdmßtly /burnedi • Oi records,', as now kept,: are.uninteH'igil to outsiders.'!;v;. v >:■:;;■.■,. :■■ ■>■:,:;.;;;,;;■■ _;■ ',;.Penalties lUiider, Amended ; ;lkW,\. 'Dealing, with: this strike 5 cossibiiitii Mr* .said- that .Che mine were very,: They wtiuld' n jivo ,in., ..had jagteed, l upi reading tap recently-passed ■' nmendmej tothe Industrial B'spntts'Aot, 1908;.. th such drastic flieasuroa w(iuld'not liealt breach. jNosvj'Va i person who instigat or aided in., a lock-out or strike was fiat toi'iinprifionment'for. a':period of twel months.' .A; (*rgeant of police or superi officer■.mi^ht.Vnofr.,force .an' entrance' , 4iy' building •! whicli.: h? •-,• had , reacorial: froundipr.'fhinkift'R ,*as usqd.as a mei ing-placo: to 'instigate, aid, or manaie striked,'. On<s of ..the ■, a,mejidments: pro vid that; a.: meeting .of. twa ,or 'more 1 jereo assembled -for..the purpose .of: , instigjiti or. aiding:: in .a;strike, • or■ liiapogingi < recting,! controlling,,or aiding iu the co tinuance'of a.etriko already inexisteii vfas;.tolawful,: and any , , , person' tati partin such a' meeting whe: had'tease able grounds for'believing that the. pre able consequentes "of this stjriko wou bo to denrivt) , .tho ,public','.cither, who] pi; to a great extent,.. 6hth.e supply of hiic&siiry comtuodity,' Iwoss liiiblo to' ii pusonmejit fot ! :ti pbripd of twelve montl without the option of n fine, atfdwitho trial:'by. jury. ;penalty;.'for.'contn( or; cOnibiAatlqn in.: ttetr'aijit ■■ Of tno (tra of tho : State' in '.any necessary • com;modi to. the detriment , of the-public, was o not exceeding.; £560, and ■ the. same '• pe alty might •bs\imhbsed upoii anyone w monppoßsed, or. nttemptsd W. monopolii thei trade of tho, State, with intent to cp trol, to tho detriment :of the public, t supply 6t price Of any toCDSsary> comtnc ityi;-'..-;-','-.-'-" , '~''.'.■■:,: " -:':' '■;-•'< iy-Y'-.-^y . -'^liOyalty.is..a• great thing/.J said K M'Williaiiis,; \"Mi \vo' are , ' Ky&Ly ;' : B there. \b. :.a "> liiffit:. to our /loyalty,. as, f as. the law.pf; thp •. laudiis. eehcenied. ■ saj?, ■; and,' there are thousands of Oth minefs ! wlio support me, that I w«u rather' giv^vup.; mining altogether th' Work,under iiicli measures."/ ; ;;'■: . '■•,; ' :jPayment :0f Fines iUhlifciilyi!: .Referring to tho' trial of;the 'thirte miners, wuo : (as repbtt6d\by cable ytsti day) had; beeli fined. JCiOO. each, ■ in deWi two' mohths' imprisonment, for havine i cited the m«nito:strike,:Mr. , M'Willinl eSpressed the opinion 'that the fines .wou hot, be 'paid. That w*s tho strong fa ing' .when I left. 'at ■ '■■ the'. ■ «ijd ■:' of •'• h w«ok," said Mr. M'W'illißms, "and. I o ijeHaiu-that; the; mines ;'\p}l. not sto workiig while tlio men.'aro.in prison. : "When the strike u coiniiienced," ' "-S1 li' Williams' \Vont on, "tho minors agrc to 'work -Messrs. Kethel 'and Co.V ti mines, the Eplnt Miiill and. the. You WallSendi-. They, were to .receive 50 '[) cent, of-'all uioiieys ohUinod : for. the- ci above. fc .'pfci'iVton, ani! ,<by, this , nrrenj ment it was hoped to recoivo about ,, «£6(l Weekly,-whiijli .would have provided aliij funds, to carry, on tho ■ ttnke.:':. HoWev< th« Govcrninout,stepped in and took.t ci»!. . There \yas a sufficient;siipply ' meet ail Government requirements, ii a , . little more,'' ffain' these: two mines; '.•: is my, fine 'belief that sbfflfr of: ; this''.-oo ,Was sold to; tte:North- Shore ,; Gae,tC4l *j&uy, for \v.e:kn«tt to the minute wi

North Shore Was to hart been pltjhged.in arkness. . Those two mines, wero worked for. about three- -vueks: ;- Jhp ; federation demanded .from theMnerV working thero I per cent, of; their! «aipnißgß, ; seeing that tere wre so inanjr.unemployed about. This was paid with a groWl, but when tho levy was raised , to fc per cent, tie miners, stopped wofk. When I left only the mines in. thii. Western Distriot.Wero working, and,their combined butt*t was not.as greab as^that'of-sKe'thel's. two mines. The needs, of the local market are great, and veiy little of the Western Dietrict coal reaches Sydney,. .The; tal is in a bad way," and matters arc getting worsi." ■-.'■■'., '.-.'... .' ;,.',."; '■:■:■ .Miners' Secession; A Now Congress.;.. Turriine to the cabled news of the so. cession of. the Northern miners' delegates from the Strike CougresS, Mr; M'Williaraß said that.this did not come as a surprise. The advisability: of staking such a $tep had been Bpbken of;'before lie. left' The intontioti was- that ; they should now; refconstruct.. the; Strike '.Congrosr to ;euit lemselves. .It would bo : composed of< the Cqjiierieß : Employees' ;V federation, the Coal and Shale ..Minors'; Federation, the lumpers of : Sydney and Newcastle,, ; and the crane hands. Tho executive of SU6JI a body -would bo able to control (ho minors and the wprl-ers who handled the coal in its transit from the pit to the steamer's hold. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Bowling. The 6plit botween the two strike leaders, <&l. W. M. Hughes (president of the Waterside Workers' Union) and Mr. Peter Bowling (president of the Collieries Employees'. l f edoratiou), was referred to. Mr. Hughes, according to Mr. M'Willianis, v,as n political leader, whoso demeanour was very mild, whon compared with that of Mr. Bowling. "Mr. Bowling is a born industrial leader," said Mr. M'Willianis, "and ho is every inch a hard fighter. Wo could not understand why Mr. Hughes proposed a general strike at one meeting of the congress, and later favoured the resumption of work in tho Western and Southern , mines. ,' - New Zealand and the Strike. "I have heard nothing of tho rumoai of a general strike in New Zealand," replied Mr; M'WUliams, when questioned on the matter of the West Coast trouble, "and my visit to the Dominion has nothing whatever to do with any sunh proposal. The whole intention,of mj our is to place the position of th< Sewoasfle strikers before the peopk here, and to ask for assistance." Mr. M'Williams added that he would probably leave to-day , for Auckland,'and would work 60Uth, finally visiting the South Island and the West, Coast. ADDRESS BY MR. M'WILUAMS. APPEAL FOR ,FONDS. "The story of the strike," from the misers' point of view, was told last night at the"Druids'-Hall, by Mr. J&mcl M'WUliams, 'vice-president of tho Coiicries Employees' Federation of Australia, , The meeting, .which consisted of about 50 individuals, was convened byiheWollijgton Trades' and Labour Council. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., who presided, said, he was glad to use his voice in aid of tho cause with Which Mr. M'Willianis was connected. It was a contest, not merely .between, .the miners and th« mine-owners, .but botween tho democracy and a great capitalistic - combination. A Tale of Suffering. < Mr. M'Williams said his missjob was to tell a tale of woe attd suffering, the story of what looked • likely to be th« greatest trouble that had over occurred this side' of tho. Lino. In 1906, tlw miners had a conference with the proprietors, and settled the points in dispute amicably. , TJio ■ miners were now again a&king for an open, conference, but this was refused by the proprietors. The latter did »ot seem to know what an. open conference meant. It'meant that the representatives of both sides met I£t a tabic, and usmlly one of th« proprietors' representatives presided, and press reporters were present,- bo that th« conference was practically ttv. public .tribunal. * ! ': v ; AnvUnsatisfaelory :I>ibu«al. ■■;-: ;;• !':•■' When ■ !thewyogri;i9o7^came,!c-.itv• waj loaded with grievances. ;The : men throat ened to doyn tools, but>ths VQeyerninenl oame to.;the :resoue ;^itK.'S':j&i, 4l i Cpm; : mission, wliirii Was really; a special Courl ioi adjueting; the grieyanoes. This Courl sat from, the latter part;of-1007 to th< "end or 1908, end dealt-with only.one caisi ~tH 'Northtimberlaiid, case—but- -it.prae ttcally settled the cases of other.collierici in 'tha , .: distsiot.. The ; ;pr6prietprs, ; :had vie cleverAlawyer, there,■ .whereas;tho ; ,tuihon had; supposed 1 that the: assistance:of la* yere; would, not.' be-; allowed, the'; re:snlt;,was ..thati/a' year.KWas'ita^en:.uß;;;:asi(! 'that: the sayatd-.Tlaced- '.'the,* workerß>lj a worse position than-befbre. ; yha Cqurl was presided pt-by a, judgeij'-afld-Vnt judge. toiild:.,liav6i;;any.j : knowledge,-..of;! tiki internal womngs of a cbal'.mifle; : '(Hcar : , hear.) 'At ■ the;end of;: 1908,,.theVminori ■withdroyr. from the Coart,= and tho pr* prjotors: also were Ml;; up.. of: it, Tlk grieyalices that tho miners '.yero suffering Tipjjemained.nnyV.now;, and there ■ffbri noi(rlothere as. wfijl.'-, , Ah -aggre^to' 'meob ing-'.of .-minora •■•; waa hold) aiid' .Vnotifled the dwnore tbat unless, they .would-.meql them thore would .be b,/ strike. vfTfo miners '. had grievances,;; The propTio,tors, ihetead of diseussing r tb'e 'gMeVatiees, ssked the men,if^ they would consent to i Board of Condliattoni to ! consisV of thre! rcpresentatiyea o£ each sido,V and lift, inv partial,Bhairinall'. Lfttef., tho oniployori abandoned this scheme,. which : they shac themselves proposed.. The r&a'edri 'Was- thai :the..strike. that.vhad : . b.cefl: impondinK-.iii eped tho Now' South Wales mine propria ■tors-into' fiiftking'"the proposal, didinbi eventnato.,",'Tfie men still tried to-got-tht employers '• to meet them> but WithdUl ;:;;-■;-;;,.:,-.; v'-.-v ■■A ■■.) ■• : .Leadefi in • v ■:■'.•'■ ' Mr. iiTVilliains'siiiarrative of ih'.e present, strike and the actiqns pttthe , Strike Congress Wus' .largely : V conberned ; with the conflict, botWeon Mi. Hughes' on the one side "and 'Mr."Bowling. Riid hiinseif other;';^:v : - '.'';■ : ' ':.■,:■'/:-ff i - Mr. was;'.going on , to say '.that he; was veryi. sorry.' that 'thero/'ttas a feud: ,botween Mh . Bowling and Mr, Hughesi. but: ip •further references to ,Mr. Hughes>-were interrupted with cries of;;" He's a traitor,". "Ee'a'a■ pirieite/.' "Don't w»sh dirty, linen here, , ' "Tell us about the strike',"; .:,; ■ -"'- v -:'■:■•':■■'■•: y "I feel th.atrl have taoroVjresdoni horo than, in; New' South Walri," remarked Mr. M'Williams, by. the Way, "Wo .Were shadowed. We had;work-iuistes;andrbonl-rnateS' who Were policemen iil ploia doihes .watching as." ;, Of "SEfeippfe.j') i : . : :;;;;:.; A;'P!flht;tu.;a->inish'v^ ; ;;n: : ;;:-.;; Speakijafe bi some unionists \yho. wauted to go back to work, Mr* M'Williatas there were always some Sveak-kneed unions ista>;Who -vrpiild ®y that their;homos , were ih; Uatiger. .% Mβ part, -lii s .home had often -been in :dang(ir» and- to had been in •; danger ;■ himsolf.; His very ' eiistence had been ihjsAtened during Hid last live or six \veats,i but. he had kept tho ilag flyini?. (Atolauso:) • They: vrould.gp Oil fighting -until tho.last .ciltrenchment Vis rbachod, and until bovbrty to return i to Work, and hot - till, then. Theyr woro ; ab ;■ lpngefiightiag: the oinWoyers.!..;The' Government Was iiglitibg lor the employer?. He >amitted that the uniphtsfe had-broken : the; Law.; frhere was a limit to a man's loyalty to. King and ccuntry, find .that .limit was -.easily.-' r.Baphe3 So far us cOncerncd,:axid, perhaps, more:easily in-lho coses of soma 'others; When ,ones, rights' and liberties,;wore threatened, he' did Apt have inueh : coiiBideration for the ftlorkrUs Britißt Ehaipiro. ,A, voice! Whj should you? ~ ■>■■'• \- :. .;■ .Speaking of the fine of itOO' «ach : «n -default; two: monthfe' imprisonmenty ibi--1 nosed oh thirteen ■ ttrikersi Mr. -;- MTVilliam's said tlio Qovbrnineiit 'hhdabbut ns much. cliEtucij of- getting the inoni?y as hd had of flying to p, M -n. ,diso. .Any.,.money ; ; tttit t>o: imionJsts cotild get was wanted to sustain {hcih.in the battle for liberty and fa food their wives and; children. They hid no mbndy ; to pay- ojtorbittiiit.fines imposed ; upon men,;whose only offence \ras bppi.,TObbl- : lion againstjrtyrannicalicondiuohs. ■' '•' '■ --''i."".".-",■«i';-ir-i'-i-"^-".,tt>.*fiv; : '\'.\'/.:-i' .-■.'",-•.■' : -y-y}-;j i./',,.;';';;An Appeal;- |V ; '■■.:■..■ : > with , BOttibTOf ! the 63 ■ griovanees .of ■. tho bunew, and concluded with ftn appeal for assistafaoo fpriwhat ho regarded rts bnb:.of the noblest of.'causesi He', ■ for, help for and: forhassistaned to tho.causa af.tinjariUm 'agSUisfah I ca ;-attempt.-wioftiSh. it put-of^esfewnce,-; I

A vote of thanks was carried by accl> - y ination, and a collection in aid of Uio strike funds was taken up , Tho chairman read a telegram from Mi. itanrfinK, Bocrotoy of tho Now Zealand Miners federation, Auckland, &tutlnij that he 'would givo Mr.i H'Willianis all the help possible, and that ho hod ' delayed making a Dominion appeal until Ms arrival, 'LOCAL CONTBIBUTCONS. LitUo rorponse has been mado as yot to the circular sent out to tho trades unions oi tho Dominion, asking for monetary assistance on behalf of needy families who had been affected by the Nowcastlo cpal-miteiV strike. A possible explanation ol this is that tho holidays have interfered with union meetings, and tho , ] matter has not yot couio up for con- ' eideration ' The Wellington Trades t,nd Labour Council has voted JC2O tonurds tho relief fund. RESUMPTION OF WORK. DISGUST OP SOOTHEEN MINERS. U^ I ."' Sβ*?* tho weumptwn of work °y th? Western miners, and ita effeci on > the Northern and Southern minora still ?L c & tte follp»ing messago from the Southern district appeared in th« Morning Herald ,, of December Th , e of work by tho men m the Western district will have a very ' important bearing on the situation in the " illawarra, and a nunber of minora today did not hesitate to say bo. "Wβ have put up a fight;" they said, 'Wfor what pnrppse? Simply to make onrpoation mfinrtely worse than it was before tne strike took place. Thousands of pounds have boon losl iii wages, and a niillstono in the ehape of the Industrial Amendment Act has boon hung iound our nooks, and.will probably Uko gener- , utions to remove it We must now return, or rather bo driven back to work, > badly defonled through tho action of a " , . pack of agitators who had not een6» v enough to recognise when tho tido had' turned, but struggled on in a lost causa, ' which has loft trades unionism practically stranded on tho rooks. Tliore is only one tkjng loft for us to do," thoy said, 'and that is to control our own affairs and not bo dependent upon moa who evidently care little for the welfare of the minor as long as they (tho asi- *■ tatore) retain their positions and ksco»y» an introduction to the district for Pa£ -, hamentary purposes." \ l tl > The Loss of Trade. 'c ■. •) In its editorial columns on the bmm ' tUy the "Herald" romarke,— "Althottjfh * the back of rho stnko has been broken, it does not appear that the Northern, \ .. miners are inclined to accept the lagio of tho situation. They know that th6y > , havo gained nothing, except an adrer* tlsomont of their grievances j and that they are in dangef of. losing should bo impressed upon them by t evol'y possiblo argument . .'. We ate all ooncern«d to preserve the great ednlmimns industry it\t:aot Whtt will affect the indmdual miner is a matter * of moment to overy mem'oer of the com- i niunity, and only an we work together by way of oounsel and warning oan w« ■ hope to help ono another. First, then, it must bo remembered that, whatever ' happens, some time mnst elapse before tho Newcastlo abd Maitland fields, or this South Ceist for that matter, x caa reaoh thfc conditions whioh prorailcd \ seven weeks ngo. Tho experience of th« > Wcelorn. miners will \nevltably be re- l peftted, and :t will nrobably be rnUattfiod bocauae tho West has its customers practioally &t its doors, while tho north i . and 6outb must look abroad for much of their trade. When tho Messrs. Hos* ' kins wore oeked to lake back all (he - men who had been working before the , ' strike they taplainod that it was impossible. Business had been lost, and the old volume of output oould only be reached gradually. We are euro that, fori,their own sakes employers would bb ijl&d enough to begin tgain exactly wheio thoy left cff. It would mean & , (juickei return la dividends and decent profits and no good purpose could b« sorted by keeping miners half or partly idle. Naturally, therefore, tbo \rise - thing for the minere to do is to get back- ' to work Jis soots as possible, because th* lotigor they remain obdurate the harder it will be eventually to find employnitat v for all of thorn.. Every week of tional friction tends to restrict th<» colliery proprietors' chanoos in the opojl market, bcMUte trade and contraoia lost , are, as a rule, exceedingly hard to t*. * :over, O'l as Fuel. i "Lest this should bo attacked as at ' argument intended raAor to frighten '■lian to convince, wo would urge upon ho Northern and Southern minora the certainty that the strike has caused sxpenmonts to bo mado, and contracts o bo let, whioh must tend ,to mako tho Futnro d'rtlopment of our coal' minis more difnoult. Wo know very well % ivhat happened after the last big sink* , it Nowcastlo. It took psars to recover * ott ground, IJhis time China and Japan ' ire more m evidence, and havo fields > iiore fully developed. Competition in 'oroign trade, was never so toon. In , Jio Commonwealth itself people have jMn thrown upon other resources of supily than tho Newcastlo and South' Coast li<tacto Victoria has turned to the* ocnl coil' with almost feverish capjries<i, and tho development of the lonromcnt mines on the JPowlott ■ jasm has been pushed forifard with. ;reat \igour. Eleowliere Oil is ueill* , ncd Qβ a fuel, and some interesting and aluablo bxi»riencc has boon Bamod. Oμ f the Ritatest oil holds in the world ii , radically at our back door, and although inde? ordinary conditions oil cannot suj- | etj'ifully compote against cotJ, somotbinq ' ias been dono with tho lwuid fuel. All ho coal bought abroad, and to be lalidoU > n Australia, has to be used \ip before th» seal fields OX6 in! full etf:ng again. But Lis in tho nctunl loss of contracts obroad o hat the minors will fool the pressur* , lost if they are not careful. Much has > con lost already, but much more is in anger, and tht-y cannot afford to play r nth opportunity if they moan at some !i iino to return to uork." *-