SAFETY-MEN WITHDRAWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 866, 9 January 1930, Page 9

SAFETY-MEN WITHDRAWN

UNIONS’ CLOSE VOTE ON VITAL ISSUE STATE SENDING MINERS United P.A.— By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 11.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. The combined committee of the mining unions in Sydney decided by eight votes to seven upon the withdrawal : of all safety men in the Northern j mines which were closed by the coal | owners under a threat of mass picket- j ing. A number of experienced coal miners has been sent to New South Wales by the South Australian Mines Department to take employment in mines which are to be opened by the New South Wales Government. SEVENTY MEN CHARGED The police in the northern coalfields district served 70 summonses on men who are alleged to have 'taken part in the riotous scenes at Rothbury on December 16. The men are charged with having used weapons, such as bottles and sticks, likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm. Alternatively they are charged with being members of an unlawful assembly. The cases will come before the Maitland Court on January 20. The central council of the Returned Soldiers’ League has dissociated itself from the action of -100 returned soldierminers who, at West Maitland, endorsed the proposal to establish a Labour Defence Corps. They resolved to pledge themselves to fight strenuodsly in any way the Miners’ Federation may direct. The New South Wales Cabinet today further discussed the coalmining situation and decided to suspend action until the High Court appeal case is determined. The Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, commented upon the statement that the miners were forming a defence corps. He said it was both unlawful and unnecessary. The police were quite capable of protecting the citizens of the country. GENERAL STRIKE FEARED CONFERENCE DEMANDED ROUND-UP OF RIOTERS < MELBOURNE, Wednesday. A surprise move was made by the Miners’ Federation today. It may affect the hearing of the appeal relating to Mr. Justice Beeby’s order for the reopening of the coalmines now before the full Bench of the High Court. An application was filed by the federation asking for a compulsory conference with the mineowners on the subject of the miners’ amended claims for wages and improved conditions. Affidavits in support of the application declared that gra-Pe unrest exists and that a cessation of work in all the mines in Australia is threatened if the claims are not granted. Officials of the Waterside Workers’ Union emphatically deny the statement that trouble is looming on the waterfront over non-union labour.