MINERS UNSHAKEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 1

MINERS UNSHAKEN

Mass Picketing On Coalfields BITTEREST ANTI-POLICE FEELING Conference Of Heads Arranged United P.A .—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 11.15 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. UNDETERRED by police action on Wednesday, the miners on the Maitland field decided to resume mass picketing. Fearing a move by the men, 100 police, strengthened by a flying gang and a wireless patrol, stood by at Cessnock last evening, during the assembling of a Communist meeting.

A conference of delegates from the lodges on the Northern coalfields re jected proposals for a general strike. The conference reaffirmed the policy of keeping the Southern. Western and unassociated Northern pits at work to provide levies for the idle miners. A remarkable prejudice against the police was exhibited at Cessnock Hospital when, following complaints from a number of patients that a police sergeant had been admitted for treatment, the board of management decided to ask the authorities to remove the sergeant to another institu-

lion. He was later sent to Newcastle Hospital. So bitter is the feeling that the employees of the Kearsley Shire Council refused to operate sanitary services at places where the police w r ere quartered. In an effort to settle the coal dead ■ lock, the Australian Labour Party j has instructed the secretary to con-; vene a conference as early as possible \ of New South Wales Federal members ! of Parliament, New South Wales State members, and the Australian Labour Party executive. Mr. Bavin is to induce Mr. Scullin to disband the Labour Defence Corps which, he asserts, is illegal under the Federal Constitution. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin, is making further efforts to bring the parties together, and these are taking definite shape. The mineowners have not disclosed the terms of the latest offer made by Mr. Scullin, but it is understood to be practically identical with the one submitted by him a month ago, namely, that the Federal Government was prepared to provide a subsidy of ninepence a ton. That offer was lejected. The owners held a meeting today to consider the matter. At Us conclusion Mr. McDonald, chairman of the Association of Northern Colliery I Owners, held out little hope of the acceptance of Mr. Scullin’s proposal. He said the owners were emphatically : opposed to bounties which were on;> I likely to provide a temporary settieI ment_