COAL MINES DISPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2487, 30 September 1922, Page 1

COAL MINES DISPUTE.

AUSTRALIAN MEN IDLE. PROPRIETORS’ THREAT TO CLOSE MINES. SYDNEY, Sept. 27. All the southern collieries were idle today owing to the men deciding to stop work one day in each week until electric safety lamps are installed. In view of this, the Southern Proprietors’ Association sent a letter to the men’s representative, stating that as a conference had been arranged between the Minister of Mines, the proprietors ad the men on the subject of electric safety' lamps, the Association regarded the men’s action as a new method of attempting to impose “darg,” and unless the men give an undertaking by Monday next to work full time, the whole of the southern mines would be closed. When informed of the owners’ decision, Mr Wilis, secretary of the Coal Miners’ Union, said a conference with all the colliery proprietors had been arranged for Friday next to discuss the deficiency question and unless that was satisfactorily settled, the Union would give further fourteen days’ notice of its intention to cease work. The officials of the Engineers’ Union state that the strike of the Newcastle steel works will not be confined to New South Wales as tho question of hours is a Commonwealth matter and a ballot of members taken throughout Australia, showed a big majority in favour of the 44-hour week. The Council of Action is discussing what action shall be taken. — Press Association.