MAY COMMANDEER MINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 1

MAY COMMANDEER MINE

Federal Cabinet’s Threat SET-OFF TO STATE’S ACTION Premier Sticks to His Guns United P.A. — By Telegraph—Copyright Received 5.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. IT was reported at Sydney last night that the Commonwealth Government intends to commandeer a privately-owned colliery in the Maitland field as a set-off to the State Government's action in acquiring the Rothbury colliery. The mine-owners declare that the Commonwealth’s action will be tested in the law courts.

The State Premier. Mr. T. R. Bavin, replying to the Prime Minister's criticism that the New South Wales Government was acting in a provocative manner, said: “I am responsible tor my actions, not to the Prime Minister, but to the people of New South Wales. Therefore I do not think it is desirable to engage in a newspaper controversy with Mr. Scullin, since we both have very heavy responsibilities at the present time.” The chief daily newspapers in Sydney endorse the Premier’s attitude, and declare that the Government’s coal plans must go ahead, irrespective of threats of violence and lawlessness. Mr. Justice Beeby announced today that owing to the coalmine owners having rejected the Federal Government’s proposals, which were submitted to the compulsory conference yesterday, he had referred the dispute into the Federal Arbitration Court. The hearing will be begun tomorrow. WORK AT ROTHBURY Work is proceeding smoothly at the Rothbury colliery. Whether the railway drivers will haul coal from the mine to Sydney, a distance of 130 miles, remains to be seen. The railwaymen have not yet made known their attitude. The fact remains that they have already transported free

workers from Sydney to the mine, and their union so far has made no public protest. ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES MAGAZINES AND DRILL HALLS RAIDED POLICE PROHIBIT SALE Reed. 11.45 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. A Rothbury message states that officials of the Stanford Merthyr Colliery discovered that the powder magazine at the mine had been broken into and a case of explosives and a large number of detonators stolen. A Kurri message reports that militants are collecting arms and ammunition. The miners were forestalled when they sought to take possession of military rifles at a local drill hall. The bolts had already been officially removed from the rifles. . A large quantity of ammunition has been sent to the police camp at the Rothbury colliery. Police action at Cessnock resulted in the prohibition of the sale either of guns or cartridges. All hotels in the mining areas have been closed even to travellers and boarders. Five unassociated collieries in the Cessnock district, where the miners ceased work to attend the funeral of Norman Brown, did not reopen yesterday. Strenuous efforts are being made Ly the moderates to have mass picketing stopped. It is understood that members of the Rothbury Miners’ Lodge decided not to take an active part in any further demonstration.