MINERS’ REIGN OF TERROR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 870, 14 January 1930, Page 1

MINERS’ REIGN OF TERROR

Rumoured Move to Ruin Pits OWNERS SEEK PROTECTION Men Drilled by Ex-Soldiers Vnitcd I*.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 11.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. A FURTHER detachment of 50 police left for the coalfields last evening. The opinion is expressed in the North that the time has arrived when the Government needs to swear in a strong body of special police for service on the coalfields. A message from Newcastle says a reign of terror is developing on the northern coalfields. The police cannot trace all the meetings of the miners.

Members of the Labour Defence Corps are being drilled by returned soldiers. The miners have forced a cessation of the passenger train service on the Cockle Creek to Wallsend run, a private railway at Newcastle. It is openly stated today that every, mine on the Lower Maitland coalfields will be picketed tomorrow and that an attempt will be made forcibly to evict the employees and ruin the mines. The owners of the Dudlv and Burwood miDfes, fearing the worst, have appealed to the police to provide adequate protection.

The coroner at Maitland, instead of continuing the inquest today into the death of Norman Brown, who was killed in the clash with the police at Rothbury on December 16, announced that he would adjourn it until February 10. He said further publication' of the details might make matters worse, owing to the ill-feeling on the coalfields. A very large crowd of unemployed miners had gathered in the precincts of the courthouse. They had intended to make a demonstration against the police. The New South Wales Government has decided to take drastic action in order to prevent demonstrations by miners on the coalfields. Men who take part. In such assemblies or who obstruct the police will be denied food relief orders henceforth. Also the police have been reinforced and instructed to prevent mass picketing or unauthorised drilling. The Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, stated today that he had been advised that large numbers of law-abiding miners were compelled by threats to take part in these demonstrations. These men were threatened variously with personal violence, deprivation of the strikers’ dole or with the burning of their homes. FUTILE COMMISSION COAL INDUSTRY INQUIRY . MELBOURNE, Today. The Royal Commission which sat for seven mouths inquiring into the coal industry, has lodged its report with the Prime Minister, but has made no recommendations. The chairman’s covering letter says: “We regret It has been impossible in the time allotted to review the industry judicially and to co-ordinate the evidence, the taking of which Is not complete. Consequently, we are unable to make any recommendations."