Mob Lew in Queensland

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1921, Page 1

Mob Lew in Queensland

-MINERS FORCED OFT OF :OW N. SYDNEY. Dec. <L Another (.sample ••! the predilection ■it the workers ui liic northern districts of Australia to assume tin ;oi.- of <ii. - tutors and take the la" into thei; own ■ lands comes from liaiaiaha. a small id: binning set t lemont mar Rocf'.liantnicui, in Queensland. Because .iicy refused to contribute to a levy that ha I been struck, several of the miners drummed out of the town L\ their mates.

At Baraiaba, the State Government Las a coalmine, and the actions of the

employees there recently led to some plain talking by t' e Mini- let for Mines. Tile Mount .Morgan Company also has i mine there, and the employees decided to help their comrades at Mount .Morgan, where the men refuse to work on account of a reiltn tiun in wages, by a it) per relit levy on sages. Some of the men refused to pay, and even when tbe levy wits reduced to 5 per cent their spirit was -till mi iptal m

the strain. Then the employees of the two mines held a meeting. Afterwards they marched to the house of one el the employees. When asked to: the reasons why he had not paid the levy, lie declined to give them. It is alleged the miners gave hint a very rough time. Other houses were visited, and the inmates were politely or otiietwiso told that Paralalia preferred their room to their company, and that they would lie well advised to get out at the first available opportunity. Ten men. ail employees of Aliitinl .Morgan pit. were concerned. Two were allowed to stay, owing to having sick wives, hut the others cleared out. These men state that they left rather than pay something which was not permitted h.v their union rules. They slate they are willing to help the distressed families at Mount .Morgan, but tire not going to submit to eoereive tactics by sell-ap-pointed union leaders. Complaint is made by these men. who are now in Rnekhnnipton. that Paralalia is being run by one or two

"big” men who have taken upon themselves to assume a sort of dictatorship of the township.

The manager nl the Mount .Morgan colliery has asked the evicted men to return to work, lint they state they will not take the risk at £5 a (lay. and will not go back unless adequate police protection is provided for the snlctv of themselves ami their families.