State May Yield

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 854, 24 December 1929, Page 9

State May Yield

COAL DEADLOCK IN N.S.W.

Miners Offer For Work

ECONOMIC SIEGE OF POLICE CAMP

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyrigh

Received 10 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. THE State Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, Las informed the Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Seullin, that the Government of New South Wales is prepared to discontinue operations at the Rothbury mine, in the event of an agreement being reached which promised to be satisfactory and permanent. The Federal Government is making £-7,000 available immediately for relief to necessitous cases on the coalfields.

Sir Adrian Knox, Chief Justice of the High Court, yesterday declined to make an order determining the validity of Mr. Justice Beeby’s award. He referred it to the Full Bench for determination on January 6.

themselves for work on the conditions which ruled before the stoppage. Their offers were acknowledged, but no men were

A preliminary application on behalf of the Caledonian Collieries. Ltd., and others, challenging Mr. Justice Beeby’s award, was adjourned by the Chief Justice until Friday, when evidence will be taken. His Honour said he would sit throughout the holidays if necessary to have the matter ready for the full Bench of the High Court at Melbourne on January 6.

The miners on the northern coal

fields yesterday morning attended at the various mines and offered

engaged. The situation is quiet on all the fields, but the police camp at Rothbury has been declared “black” and subjected to an economic siege. The storekeepers at Branxton, Cessnock and Kurri have been warned that they must not sell anything to the police.

The Prime Minister yesterday renewed the offer of the Federal Government to pay the miners’ share of one shilling a ton in a price reduction, but the problem arises who is to pay it and who is to receive it? The miners and the owners were consulted, but no decision was reached, and it is considered improbable that the offer will be accepted.