THE COAL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

TROUBLE SPREADS SHIPPING DISLOCATED SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT ' By Ttele?ranh--Press' Assodaiioii-Oopyrieit Sydney, November 8. There is a serious development in the coal strike. Three of the five districts, representing 12,000 of the 20,000 men on strike, have urged the Miners' Federation to declare all coal in the Commonwealth "black." Unless supplies are available within a fortnight, all factories depending on gas or electric power will be -unable to carry on. The miners announce that they are not making further representations to the proprietors or the Government. Mr. Semple, the New Zealand miners' agent and inspector, who is visiting Sydney, said that the men's demand was very reasonable. As far as the New Zealand miners were concerned, they were not going to produce a single basket of coal for Australia. The coke workers at Bulli have struck, contending that coke is being -sent where coal was formerly used. STRIKE A FEDERAL MATTER. Sydney, November 8. In reply to questions in the Assembly the Premier (Mr. Homian) refused to legislate concerning the coal strike, stating that it was a Federal matter. UNION COMPANY'S SUPPLIES. ' Sydney, November 8. _ In connection with the coal crisis, it is interesting to note that work, which had been temporarily suspended at the Union Company's oil and coal depot in Kerosene Bay ; has been vigorously resumed. It is expected it will be the biggest depot on the foreshores of the harbour, and will be ready to supply the company's fleet shortly.

CRISIS IN THE SHIPPING WORLD (Rec. November 8, 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, November 8. .-/■ The coal strike is gradually extending its influence, and inter-State shipping is dislocated. Unless the Government makes supplies available •within the next few days, seagoing traffic will practically cease. Every berth at Newcastle' is occupied by 6teamers requiring coal, and the majority of the crews have been paid off. The mine managers are prepared for a long struggle. They contend that it would bo better to close down the mines than grant the men's demands. The miners' officials have refused to declare all coal "black." The Navy Department is releasing supplies in ■urgent cases. The miners are continuing to bunker transports. A gang of raflwaymen who had been sent to Lithgow to load slack refused to handle it, and were.paid cff. , : The dislocation of the shipping . is causing a shortage of forage, and grain prices are advancing rapidly.