WAR ON WAGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 345, 4 May 1928, Page 9

WAR ON WAGES

N.S.W. MINERS AWAIT MOVE

“FIGHT WON’T BE ONE-SIDED’’

rE New South Wales coal-miners are preparing to take up the gauntlet which the owners will fling down when they declare war on present wages. It has been suggested that the men return to the 1914 standard.

(United P.A.—By Telegratih Copyright) Reed. 10 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Consequent on Mr. John Brown’s statement, the coal miners are organising aggregate meetings, which will be called throughout the coalfields, and the policy laid down by the All Australian Trades Union Conference last week, for observance by miners, will be discussed. Mr. Brown, who is a wealthy coalowner, made gloomy predictions of a great upheaval in the New South Wales coal industry unless a return was made to 1914 wage standards. A conference of miners’ officials is being held at Newcastle on Tuesday to receive the decisions of the aggregate meetings. Mr. T. Hoare, president of the

Northern Miners* Federation, said that when the owners made their long premeditated attack on the rates and conditions of the coal industry the fight would not be one-sided. Mr. Hoare added that the system of private ownfrship of the coal mines was chaotic, and if miners had to return to 1914 rates, as suggested by Mr. Brown, the wages would be reduced by one-half, which would be a mere dole. INDUSTRY CRIPPLED “IN PARLOUS CONDITION’’ STRIKES AND STOPPAGES Reed. noon. NEWCASTLE, To-day. Mr. Brown, supplementing his comments, said that never in 50 years’ experience had he seen the coal industry in such a parlous Condition. He added: “How on earth can we sell our coal if the price prohibits people from buying it? I went to great expense equipping the mines with the most modern machinery, to cheapen and expedite production, rendering possible a daily output of 5,500 tons, but my efforts were abortive, because of the ever-increasing hewing rates. “Moreover, the Government made me pay £36,000 duty on the machinery. We have practically lost Victorian coal orders, due to strikes and stoppages. They are now relying on brown coal produced in Victoria, while our overseas trade has long since been crippled.’ *