N.S.W. COAL CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1930, Page 6

N.S.W. COAL CRISIS

ROTHBURY COAL,

SEAMEN’S AND RAILWAYMEN’S VIEW.

(Australian Prees Association).

SYDNEY, Jan. 2

Matters are quiet on the coalfields. No coal has yet been trucked away from Rothbury, pending the results or the Railwaymen’s ballot on the subject of whether the Union of llailwaymen should Handle non-Union coal. The Rothbury Mine is picketed by the miners, who are in no way aggressive. The High Court proceedings for testing the validity of Judge Beeby’s Federal Arbitration Court order for re-opening of the idle collieries at the pre-stoppage rates of pay is still in progress, and considerable evidence is being taken. Among to-day’s witnesses was Mr David Davies (General Secretary of the Miners’ Federation), who deposed that ' the railway employees would refuse to haul any coal from Rothbury and the Seaemen’s Union would refuse to handle it, and that there was likely to be a general upheaval in Australia.

THE COAL CRISIS

(Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 3. The Railway Commissions decided to man trains, taking provision into Rotlibury with those who are not members of the Union. The Minister of Mines, Mr Weaver, stated coal hewing at Rothbury is now in full swing and the output equal to that of normal times. No labourers had left the mine, as had been alleged. The conference of representatives from all northern miners’ lodges, held at Cessnock decided should the coal pro_ ceedings before the Arbitration Court break clown, all safety men be withdrawn from northern pits and each mine be mass picketed. Statistics, compiled by the probate office, show during 1929 the value of estates left by testators in New South Wales amounted to £26,089,382 sterling. A general increase was all recorded.