COAL CRISIS ACUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2936, 23 November 1916, Page 5

COAL CRISIS ACUTE

MEN REFUSE TO BALLOT FOR RESUMPTION

SHADOW OF FAMINE IN SYDNEY

ACTION BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

'By Telegraph-Press ABSociation-Copy'rielit (Rec. November 22, 9.15 p.m.) Melbourne, November 22. • The Federal Calbinet has discussed the coal crisis, and is expected to take action under the War Precautions Act to limit the uso of coal to national industries only. A miners' delegate wired Mr. Hughes (the Prime Minister) that the men had refused to take a baftot, and added: "We have faithfully represented the proposals." _ The proprietors' representatives telegraphed the result of the ■ meeting, pointing out that the miners were prepared for a resumption of work as arranged. "We renewed our offer to agree to the eight hours.bank-to-bank principle as defined by the English Coal Mining Act, but we cannot agree to all hands commencing and finishing together, which would seriously cripple the industry. Nevertheless wo are prepared to abide, by decision of a competent tribunal." Mr. Hughes has summoned a further compulsory conference for Friday. SYDNEY'S PLIGHTGROWS STEADILY WORSE/ GLOOMIEST FOREBODINGS Sydney, November 22. The Miners' Federation cancolled the arrangements for the ballot amongst the Northern miners owing to the hostility of the men. A meeting of the, Southern miners decided, , amidst great . enthusiasm, not to take a ballot, and expressed determination not to resume work-imtil all the demands are granted. The deadlock created' by. the refusal to take a ballot is regarded! as a most serious development. The whole of the commercial and domestic facilities are threatened with' The mine-owners meet to-day to : consider the situation, and the next Government move is anxiously awaited. Twelve hundred men were paid off at Walsh Island' Government works, involving'a loss in wages of £5000 weekl.v. ■' _• , Tliere is sufficient coal to supply light to the city for a fortnight only. It is anticipated tliafc before the end of the week the' whole _of the brick works will cease operations. (Rec. NovemW 22,' 9.15 p.m.) ' Sydney,; November 22. The depressing effect of the coal strike increases- every db.y. Yesterday's fiasco caused-the gloomiest forebodings, and the evening papers came out with startling headlines : "OH AOS THREATENS, AUSTR-A- . LIA!" : . "' "GRIM MENACE OF FAMINE." The newspapers forecast a. stoppage of the trains, which will mean that food supplies will -he exhausted in ten day 3 .; The general feeling is that the miners will not resume until their demands: are granted.: They apparently mistrust the possibility of obtaining redress at the tribunals. ■ The owners have-suspended all their preparations for the resumption of work, and withdrawn the pit horses. . The gas restrictions vary every day. The board now prohibits the use of gas' for lighting, heating, and -cooking, at hotels, restaurants, shops, and all trading business purposes. Many prosecutions for contravention of the regulations are contemplated.' TROUBLEITENGLAND SOUTH WALES MINERS RESTIVE • ("The Times.") London, November 21. 1 The South Wales correspondent of "The Times'.' states that far-reaching mining trouble brewing. The miners are dissatisfied at _ the non-settlement of'long-standing grievances. (R-eo. November .23, 1.30 a.m.) London, November 22. The . situation in South Wales''is increasingly serious. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain meets to-day " at Southport to consider the questions of output and food prices. The South Wales miners are proposing a resolution in favour of a National Day Strike on November 27, as a protest against the food prices. • The quarrel in South Wales is Teali.v the sordid question of what division of the spoils the masters and men will extract from the 1 nation and the Allies as the result of the present coal priceß. The men are already making very high wages. They do not pretend that they need more money, despite the price of food, but they accuse the owners of making illict profits. Under the arrangements whereby the wages vary with the selling price of coal, the men are not satisfied with the joint audit of the owners' books and demand an audit of the cost of production, which the masters refuse. The dispute could readily be solved if there was goodwill between masters and men. The Welsh miners liave a Tory imperfect appreciation of the war. The miners are accordingly the cat'spaws of pro-German agitators. Some of the newspapers suggest that - the masters should clear themselves of the charge of dishonesty by submitting to a joint audit on the cost of production. If they don't, the Government must act strongly.