N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1930, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

HIGH COURT VERDICT

ON BEEBY RESUMPTION ORDER

(Australian Press Association)

(Received this day at 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 22. The High Court of Australia to-day gave its judgment on the appeal made by tiie New South Wales Government and by the Northern Collieries Proprietors’ Association against the interim award made by Judge Bee by in the Federal Arbitration Court last month, in which he ordered the reopening of the, idle coal mines on the pre-stoppage basis. The judgment, which occupied only live minutes, was in favour of the appeal, which was upheld. Chief Justice Isaacs is the only dissentient. Tiie other four Judges favoured tho appeal. The Court held that, although there was a serious industrial dispute on coalfields in New South Wales, there was no .actual dispute elsewhere in Australia, and that, therefore, the Arbitration Court had no jurisdiction to make an interim award such as that which was the subject of this appeal. The Court further held that, as the New South Wales Government was not employing any members of the Miners’ Federation at the Rothbury Colliery, Judge Bee by had no jurisdiction over that colliery or over the New tjouth Wales Government.

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

RUBS IT INTO MINERS

SYDNEY, Jan. 22. Magistrate Reed at the Maitland Court to-day imposed stiff fines on miners who were involved in Rothbury riots on December 16th. and tearing

p Braxton railway. Seventeen men were fined £2O each, r in default three months’ imprisonlent.

Two other men were fined £lO each, or in default two months.

'Hie police evidence went to show some of the defendants were armed with stout waddies, and were actually ringleaders in the December disturbances.

SENSATIONAL ARRESTS

"SYDNEY, Jan. 23

A sensation was caiisqd at Leister when seven men, prominent officials of the Hepburn miners lodges were arrested and. later charged at Kurri with intimidation. They were then released on bail. The action was taken under the Amended Crimes Act. More arrests are expected. The police yesterday visited a dozen homes in Cesspoek searching for arms and ammunition.

LABOUR CENSURE MOTION

SYDNEY, January, 23

In a resolution of censure upon the Federal Labour Ministry a conference of Labour representatives expressed the opinion the Government was lacking in firmness and intiative and ability to deal with the coal disputes. The resolution demanded that the Federal Government should prosecute coal owners with the utmost vigour of the> law ancl that a prohibitive duty should be struck on coal imports. The resolution was passed at last night’s session. It is definitely stated officially that no further mines will he opened yet by the State Government. The miners on the coal fields yesterday were quiet.