PROGRESS OF THE STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 238, 13 November 1909, Page 2

PROGRESS OF THE STRIKE.

THE CASE KM THE MINEUS. CEN'EUAN STOPPACiE W U'OKK. INEVITABLE. By Cable.—Press Association.—Cnpyrigtr. Sydney, Friday. The minors' delegate to tiie board lias iaeucd a statement of the grievances upon which tlie Newcastle strike was declared. It covers the whole of the troubles of the northern coalfields for several years. Many points are raised of an intricate character,

Air. Bowling, referring to the flovcrn-n-.ent's proposed action, said that Sir Wi.de's speech contained a threat in nlmost every line. He appeared to bo us'ni threatening language to bluir. Hwigiil frighten, but the miners were not to be frightened that way. If Mr. Wade took action it would be somewhere else than Newcastle, and it would not be 0n,., of the miners who should be first ar rested.

The coastal steamship companies have •followed the interstate companies in raising freights and farce. Vlie Union Company and the Hndihr Parker Proprietary anticipate little ill.! "iiltv in securing coal. The Union Co>„ rany has a stock of 2000 tons at Sew castle which is reserved for the pas I »onper service. Th e stoppage of the southern supplies is likely to seriously interfere with the other companies. Fuel for domestic purposes is getting scarce, and the stoppage of work by n number of firms is inevitable unless ;i early settlement is arrived at. Sydney, Frid.i,-. In response to an invitation to par ticipatc in the open conference to ledrrfis the existing grievances, the west em colliery proprietors stated that no grievances existed. The Lilligow .Miners' Federation off! ei'ils state that the request was not nuant for the combined conference, but | for three separate conferences for three

mining districts. The northern proprietors meet at Sidney to-dny to discuss the situation. There is reason to believe that they will insist upon the resumption of work as a primary consideration to the negotiations.

A meeting of the Sydney Labor Cour. (il endorsed the strike and gave its approval of the extension of the movement if 'he proprietors declined a conference. A mass meeting of waterside worker* is called for .Monday. A statement is to he made that if the proposed conference fails, the waterside workers from TSiisbane to Perth will strike on Tuesday.

DEALING WITH THE STRIKE. Melbourne. Friday. Mr. Andrew FisTier, referring in the House to the strike, advocated vesting powers for dealing with Mich mailers in tl'.e Commonwealth, which would be letter able to deal therewith than the States.

Mr. Deakin, Federal Premier, was opposed to sweeping invav the authority exercised by the State tribunals.

The Trades Hall Council carried a resolution supporting the strike. Several more steamers have been placed out of commission and others are to be laid up as they arrive. Over three hundred shipping employees are already idle. The Railway Commissioners have or(bred reserve coal, rehiring the train services wherever possible. ' Hobart, Friday. The steamer Karitane has been'ordered to Sydney, where nh ( , will be laid up. Coal is scarce and a big rise is feared. Some of the mines have closed down.

Brisbane, Friday. A meeting of the waterside workers resolved to cease work if called upon.

OTHER DISTRICTS JOIN THE STRIKERS. NORTHERN COAL OWNERS AGREE TO A CONFERENCE.

Received Nov. 12, 8 p.m. Sydney, Last Night. The Zigzag miners are out, being tiie first western mine to join the strike. The northern coal-owners have decided to reply to the miners' request agreeing to a conference if the men resume work within a week. If the conference is abortive, they arc agreeab'c to refer the grievances to an Industrial court,

THE REASONS FOR STRIKING. A COMPACT TO DESTROY UNiONS. FOOD FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. Received Nov. 13, 0.35 a.m. Sydney, Last Night, Peter Bowling (the miners' secretary!, in a speech at Newcastle, declared that bad the strike not heen entered on at the present time it would have meant disaster to tli 0 miners, and some of tile smaller colliery owners would have been iii'iied by the big companies. An cmissrn- from England had before the strike "'lined entered into a compact tlial would have placed the Miners' Federation under the heel of the colliery owners and given the whole power of he coal trade of the country into tiehands of a few men. One great swindle of the clique he referred to would haw given them a profit of £IOO,OOO in one grab, but the clique had been beaten and lost thousands.

Referring to the question of food sup. p'ics, Mr. Howling said that the men of tli? di«tnct would not let the women and children starve. Ho need not tell them how that could be done, no r could he do 'octter than repeat the words of Cardinal Manning to the London dock f-'-s: "If yon arc hungrv, take it." He imped (hey would see that the v got food for their wives and children. If the InV -food in the way of hunger and starvation, then the law was unjust, The minora were fighting the battle of the public, because they had entered on a strike so that there might be kept awav from Australia what was one of America's greatest curses, an Octopne • hat had its grip on America, to-dav. !(, referred to what was tcchnieall'v Known as "a deal."

The Star of Scotland has snflieien. bunker coal to carry her to New Zealand.

Tto Virion Company has decided to lay up several steamers and curtail the la-niiinian service.

PREPARING! FOR EMERGENCIES,

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Friday. n order that the Uliniaroa should not be delaved in Australian waters in consequence of the Newcastle strike. I.n-gc quantities of coal are l.einrr placed in tin. vessel here to-day. She wTll carrv nbeiit sixteen hundred tons when le.iv--I'iir this afternoon, and should hnv ••noiigh- to brine; her Lack to New Z,..i-Ini-d without delay or inconvenience