THREATENED COLLIER STRIKE AT NEWCASTLE.

Evening Star, Issue 2929, 9 July 1872, Page 3

THREATENED COLLIER STRIKE AT NEWCASTLE.

The threatened collier strike at Newcastle presents a feature novel to all movements of a similar kind. The strike is not provoked by any reduction in wages, which have been stationary for some time past, nor by any great profits obtained by the employers, who are not getting interest for their money. On the contrary ttie avowed object of the men is mainly to coerce the masters into raising the price of coal, a thing wlncu some of them have long been attempting to do, hut without success. Of the six collieries three arc selling coal at 8s a ton and three at 7s. The price was reduced by the Lambton Colliery, the managers of which Lave justified their action on the ground that their trade was slipping away, and that it was necessary to recover it by a temporaly undcisellng. The downward movement was followed by the New i ambton and Waratah colleries The A. A. Company, the Wall send Company, and the Co-operative have adhered to the previous price, and have kept their trade. The miners arc afraid that corapetit on will lead to further reduction, and that their wages will bo attacked. They are disposed, therefore, to take the initiative, and to compel the masters to raise the price. Their resolution was to take the collieries in successaion, and to begin with 01 i Lanibton, which was the first to lower the price, but as a good many of the men are in favour of a general strike, it is not impossible that, from want of unanimity, the movement may break down. The argument of the London manager is that there are too many collieries’, and that one or two of the weaker ones must be shut up. There is no doubt that the producing power is in excess of the demand, and the three largest collieries, the A. A. Company, the Wabsent! Company, and the Lambton Company, could, without any additional appliances, supply 700,000 tons a year. In the course of time the demand will doubtless grow ; meanwhile each colliery will fight to the last before it shuts up, and while the struggle lasts.