LOYALIST "COALIES"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3187, 11 September 1917, Page 6

LOYALIST "COALIES"

OFF TO CATHERINE HILL BAY. Sidney, September 3. "Now then, three cheers for the boys." Tliree rousing cheers rang across the harbour front as the big steam, launch carrying the second contingent of recruits for the Government collieries moved away from a certain jetty on the harbour front. "Three cheers for tho boys at the front," shouted a 6turdy volunteer, and again eaino the full-throated response from. 130 men sitting on a miscellaneous assortment of luggage. The passengers, with passports duly vised, wero as heterogeneous' a collection as their luggage. The callings thoy followed were as various, too; but one only had to move about amonst them to find that there was something common to them all; that something was tho vital spark which has sent scores of thousands of thoir fellows to the front—loyalty to country. It was hero spoken of in downright fashion, there hinted at, the necessity for keeping transports going; but underlying all was tho grim' determination of each one to do his bit in tho country's hour of danger. Some of them had been gold and copper miners, others had worked in collieries, and there were many others who had offered their services in any capacity, wore it filling coal, behind the machine, wheoling, driving, or working on tho surface. • "I don't need to take on this job, said ono well-set-up man of middle age, '"but I had four brothers at the front, and I could not rest when I know all the unions bad refused to load transports." "I'm with you thero, mate, a working miner chimed in. "I've been as good a unionist as the best of them; but that finished me, too. From now on I don't care what colour call me, if thoy want coal wo'll get it." Later on, when the volunteers had been transhipped to a collier, the men, lacking other accommodation, camped togothor. in their blankets on tho decks and in the holds. It was not till midnight that the begrimed littlo collier crossed oat from the harbour. All hands were on deck wrapped in blankets, .and many a mining yarn and story of the outback" found ready currency amidst tho passengers. - ~, To mention just a fow of the occupations previously followed by tho travellers, tlie.ro were,,-in addition to miners, engine-drivers, orohardists, clorks, .farmers, labourers, cooks, blacksmiths, indent .clerks, and at least one actor. /Several of the men were returned soldiers. There were others, too, who candidly confessed that they were out to earn money, whilst helping the country 'ovor a .crisis, and, in the words of one of them, I hope wo get put on a tonnago rate." Fortune and tho weather favoured the voyagers, and the trip up tho wast passed without discomfort other than that associated with sleeping on the hard deck ot a collier.; r '' .' is the first glow of dawn showed oceanwards the collier swung to Ivor anchor off Catherine Hill Bay. A few lights twinkled along the ocean front and as theso disappeared the white beaches and scrub-covered coastline wcto gradually outlined with tho growing light. Another comer rose and tell to the ocean swell, and still another was berthed at the high coaling jetty. It was nearly midday before the whole contingent was landed in the ship's boats at the jetty, and all tho men wero ready to devour their late breakfast. Subsequently all got aboard 6onie open trucks, and tho colliery locomotive steamod .-.way to Middle Oamp, the township nearest the colliery. ' „ There are three townships—"The Bay, facing the jetty; Middle Camp, the village near the colliery; and tho Mmo Camp, a scttlemen't near tho old pit. Tho men are quartered at present right m the centre of Middle Camp, and last night there was a little demonstration with what is known as the tin-can band. Inspector Buzacott, of Newcastle, has 25 police under his command, but owing to the length of line and the pit and the magazine to be guarded, reinforcements arc arriving immediately. A locomotive which was derailed on Mouday was put into running order to-day, and the work of winning coal will probably be commenced to-morrow. There are now 250 men ready for work, and about 20 machines are installed to cut coal. In the meantime there is a quantity ot coal ready for shipment.

AMATEUR MEAT MEN

The following official statement was issued yesterday by the Wholesalo Meat Trade Committee:—"lteports received by the committee of management to-day (Wednesday) from those in charge of the various slaughtering units at the .reiv abattoirs are most satisfactory. Each day shows a marked improvement in the ability'of those doing the work, and conditions are gradually becoming normal. The tallies being put up by aoino men are equal to those done by tno old slaughtermen. The result of the past fortnight's working at Homebiish with volunteer labour under organised iKstruction and supervision has m-oved beyond I all doubt that the meat t.udo in the future has no need to be hold up with the petty troubles and strikes, this industry has suffered in the past at llic dictation of a small body of slaughterman, whoso actions have resulted m sacrificing. Hip interests of owners, exporters, agents, and others, and in serious disorganisation and confusion in the live stock and meat t i:iUusiry business generally. "Tbo very natural result of these new conditions must be that'a- great dca, of more competent labour will become available for this industry in tho future. All arrangtrrents at the meat markets were most satisfactorily carried out to-day (Wednesday), and there will be a full complement of calves and pigs available to-n'ouow in' addition to tne. usual supplies of beef and mutton.'

MANNING THE TRANSPORTS

Sydney,- September 3. A number of competent seamen and firemen are urgently wanted. It was stated on behalf of the Government Inst night that the men who hold their discharges aro asked to volunteer at once. "The call for men to man the transports involving as it does the comfort,' help and almost the safely of cur own Ws J ' it was stated, "has only to be made to moot with a quick responßo. A

general muster of seafaring men prepared to volunteer has been called for at tho National Service Bureau.

RAIL AND TRAM

EXPEESS SLEEPING CABS. Sydney, September 5. The Railway Corumiesioners yesterday issued the following report:— Railways, "Commencing to-morrow (AA'eduesday) tho Melbourne "limited express train will resume running, with, sleeping car passengers only. Provision will also boniado for a sleeping car on tho Brisbane mail trains. With regard to the goode traffic, 23 trains were dispatched from and H. trains arrived at Darling Harbour during the 24 hours! ended 1 a.m. to-day. In addition to S3? trucks of poneral goods, 9 cattle wagons, and 2 small horse boxes, loaded with horses, and s"large, horse boxes and 3. sheep vans loaded with 1 pigs, were recoived, loaded, and dispatched yesterday (Monday). There were 73 trucks of perishable traffic (including 38 of meat) available for delivery at Darling .Harbour this morning, and a further ~45 trucks of perishables arrived during the day. There were 10 trucks of Gkins, 29 trucks of flour, bran, and pollard, and lli trucks of general goods, in addition to 58 bales of woi«, ami 4419 bags of wheat, delivered yesterday at Darling Harbour, whilst at Darling Island the deliveries were 13 trucks of wheat, wood, coal, and chaff. At Eozelle 78 trucks of wheat were loaded for city and suburban mills, whilst 18 trucks of coal were also loaded and dispatched. At Alexandria 121 trucks of produce, comprising 13 trucks of hay, 68 of chaff, 3 of grain, and 39 of potatoes, were manifested this morning, and the clearances yesterday amounted to 95 tracks, including 30 trucks of firewood. There were GO trucks of firewood on hand this morning, including 38 of bakers' wood aud 102 trucks of produce, and 180 trucks of potatoes are invoiced to arrive. "The local train services in the Newcastle district are being conducted without difficulty. All traffic offered is being lifted; 2030 tons of coal were haul id from East Greta Junction to Port Waratah yesterday, and altogether eight train loads of coal, totalling 2465 tons, wero hauled from various collieries to tlie Dyke; 1065 tons of coal were dripped into three vessels. Four hundred and seventy tons of coal were loaded by means of tho steam navvy. / "Information was received by the Bailway Commissioners to-day to the effect that tho Queensland district traffic manager had issued instructions to the stationmaster at Wallangaira to accept all traffic as usual: The delayed parcels have been sent forward 1 , and the delayed goods traffic was all cleared from New South. Wales at 11 a.m. to-day. "Last-week's railway earnings showed that the receipts from coaching' traffic were approximately 75 per cent, of the receipts received from similar, traffic for the corresponding period last year, and the goods and stock traffic approximately 50 per cent. Tramways. > "It is proposed during this week to improve the tramway services during tho busy hours of the day, between i p.m. and 6 p.m. When this has been done, all reasonable public convenience will have been met."

LOYAL SERVICE WOMEN

Sydney, August 28. Yesterday 501 women personally attended at the Loyal Servico Bureau, and thoir names and addresses were registered. Although there were many women with special qualifications, tliej 6igned on in the miscellaneous section to show their willingness to do anything for the service of their country—anything to help. Many offered their services to the &overnment—not for tho term of the strike only, but until the end of the war. Many letters were received yesterday, and tho clerical staff worked hard to tabulate Iheni. Help was offered from Orange, from Dungog, Bathuret, and other towns, the writers of tho letters expressing themselves as willing to leave' their homes at a, moments notice if their services were required. Women of all classes and in every grade of society camp yesterday to tho jeiirolling rooms in ■the Education Buildings. Here was tho widow of a well-known Government official; here tho young wife of a Light Horseman on active (service; here a young society girl; Wain, perhaps, a woman worker thrown out of her usual employment. All were earnest—all anxious to give their services. Cooks, waitresses, motor drivers, and cleaners were interviewed and registered, and when the office was closed for tho day tho organisers were well satisfied with tho results of their labours. To-day another rush is expected. The registrations to date total 22-16.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' HELg

Perth, August 28. The lieturned Soldiors' Association on Saturday resolved to give their support to the Government in any reasonable action taken to terminate tho Fremantle lumpers' strike; and reduce the cost of living. After the meeting several members signed a pledgo to assist the Federal .and State Governments in their efforts to secure the performance of tboso works essential to the discharge of Australia's duty to the Empire, and. Australia's soldiers, and stating that if required they were prepared to be sworn in as special constables.