Broken Hill Strike.

Manawatu Herald, 16 July 1892, Page 3

Broken Hill Strike.

The circumstances of the present strike at Broken Hill are thus related by the Sydney Daily Tolegraph: - Some two years ago a general agreement was drawn up between the mine owners and the miners, the terms of which havebeen observed on both sides until the present trouble began. Recently the mine directors arrived at Ihe decision that they could no. longer work the mines on the day wage principle, and decided to substitute the contract system. This was objected to by the miners, and last week the directors gave notice that they would terminate their agreement with the men at the end of the current month. The reply wag an almost instant declaration of war to the' knife. The miners came to gether in thousands, and in a whirl wind of tempestuous excitement resolved to abandon work at once. The critical condition of the Proprietary mine suggested to them an opportunity of bringing the employers to their te.mw at a terrible cost. It was pointed out that if work was continued to the end of the month timbering might be effected which would enable the mine to.be left idle with little loss save that of the output for months, whereas a sudden stoppage might involve incalculable loss to the owners. The thought ran like wildfire through the minds of the angry crowd, and the words were cheered, and cheered again. So to-day (sth inst.) the fires are out and the mines deserted. 'J he earnings of thousands of man have ceased, and a wild and hopeless warfare has begun.