COAL STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1929, Page 5

COAL STRIKE

(Australian Press Association). SYDNEY, Doc. 17. To-day’s Compulsory Coal Conference was presided over by Judge Beeby of the Federal Arbitration Court. He announced that a. member of the Commonwealth Government had submitted certain proposals for the immediate opening of the mines, and stated that the Court would commence the hearing of evidence into the dispute not later than January 22nd. Substantially the proposals of the Federal Government are that the mines shall be opened as expeditiously as possible on the same wages and conditions as those prevailing before the mines were closed down, and that the selling price of coal shall be reduced by four shillings per ton; such reduction to be met by one shilling per ton Federal subsidy; one shilling per ton by the coal owners, and two shillings per ton by the New South Wales Government, whose subsidy would be obtained by means of reductions in rail and wharf and other charges. The Conference adjourned till tomorrow to enable the delegates to consider the proposals.

MINISTER OF MINES LEAVES ROTHBURY.

SYDNEY, Dec. 17

The Minister of Mines, Mr Weaver, remained for a time at Rothbury today. Then he left in an enclosed car, escorted by the police, for Sydney, in order to be present in Parliament this evening. Broken fences, dented white police helmets and hefty sticks tell of the fury of the onslaught by miners against the police at Rothbury.

MASSED UNIONISTS MEETING. COMMUNISTS FIERY SPEECHES. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 17. A massed unionists demonstration was held to-night in Hyde Park. There were inflammatory speeches by Communist leaders. There was a crowd of twenty thousand onlookers, but only a small section cheered them. The majority were present out of sheer curiosity, expecting rioting. The speakers blamed the Federal Labour Government for yesterday’s shooting and expressed the hope that the workers would now form their own force, since the workers could no longer rely on the Federal Government using the defence forces under their control for the protection of workers. Five hundred uniformed and plainclothes police guarded Parliament House. The situation was tense. Large crowds lined the footpaths in the hope of witnessing a clash. A small number of hot-heads, from Hyde Park meeting, which was nearby, eventually tried to force their way into the Legislative Assembly, but were quickly repulsed by the police. who used batons and made some arrests. The injured were treated in Sydney Hospital, which adjoins Parliament House, The police then marched to Hyde Park and dispensed the Idlers. Complete order was restored by 10.30 p.m, ROTHBURY RUMOURS. firing of shots. (Received this dnv at 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 18. At Rothbury after a day of rumours, incidents full of ominous portent occurred near the mine last night. Police guarding the colliery reported seven shots wer elired int-o the grounds of the pit from lorries containing miners returning from the funeral of Mr Brown.

Reports of a rifle or revolver weie heard also earlier in the afternoon as the lorries were passing on their way to the funeral.' There are persistent rumours in Braxton and Greta that, if the present effort at a settlement in Sydney failed, there will be further intensive picketing. Here lies the seed of the new danger as the temper of the men has been inflamed by the tragic happenings of Monday.

The owners last night definitely rejected Judge BeeEy’s proposals on the ground that they were unacceptable to individual owners. It is not expected the suggested terms will be accepted by the State Government.

BISHOP’S HOPE. (Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 18. His voice vibrant with emotion, the Bisohp of Newcastle (Doctor Long), who officiated at Mr Brown’s funeral, expressed the hope in God’s name that there might be no recrudesence of the anger which caused the death and suffering on Monday. In the course of his address, Dr Long said: — “ This brother who has so innocently fallen in the strife was no aggressor. He was not engaged at the time of his death in any breach of the law.” MR SCULLIN’S STATEMENT SYDNEY, Dec. 18.

Referring to the shooting at Rothbury, the Federal Prime Minister, Mr T.’H. Scullin, said this unfortunate clash had been precipitated by the action of the New South Wales Government in attempting to open the mine at reduced wages. This had been followed by another grave error in the refusal of the Bavin Government to attend the Arbitration Conference.