COAL STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1929, Page 5

COAL STRIKE

A FEDERAL MOVE.-

HOW THE STRIKE MOTION M AS CARRIED.

MR THEODORE’S PROMISE,

(Australian Press Association)

(Received this day at 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 20,

Mr Scull in mad.:' lue first direct movement yesterday in.the coal deadlock as Prime Minister, hv calling a cuuicreikc of Federal and State Governments, Northern coal owners and Mining L nioies to take place at Canberra- next Saturday morning. The general feeiing at Maitland is that the State Government will not be a,bio to work Rothbiuy pit, hut the Government are confident. Premier Bavin said that the Government was determined to go on with the scheme.

The “Herald" says a motion carried by combined Unions at a meeting on Monday in favour of a general coal strike, was part of a scheme dictated by the Federal authorities to enable the Federal Government to get control of the, situation-. The motion was passed at the request of the Federal Treasurer (Mr Theodore) and was supported by men who were entirely opposed to any course of action that would result in throwing the mines idle throughout the State, and so cutting off the Federation doles, on which the unemployed miners are at present 'depending,

It is since learned that Mr Theodore informed tho coal mining leaders at the wook end that if they would carrying a general strike resolution, the Federal Government would have constitutional ground for intervening in the dispute. On the claim that the matter was one of national emergency, a conference would be called at which the Federal and State Government, coal owners and coal miners would ho represented. The conference would- he informed that the Commonwealth intended to subsidise at a shilling per ton the first two million tons of coal produced;’’"'after the miiies resumed, miners resume work! [ail.the pre-stoppage^rates. The Government woidd then appoint a new tribunal to fix fates * for the industry.