NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9644, 9 November 1909, Page 5

NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

EVERY COAL MINE DESERTED. PROBABLE DURATION OF THE STRIKE. A FIGHTING SPEECH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received November 8, 10.10 a.m. SYDNEY, November 8.

Every coal mine in the northern district is deserted, twelve thousand men having left work. The suddenness of the strike is attributed the fact that coalowners' stocks were low. It is believed that the railways have enough coal for two months. The Gas Company has a month' supply, and the ferry companies six weeks". The inter-State shipping companies appear to have practically nu stocks.

The proprietors believe that the strike will last until after Christmas.

The general public is wondering to what Jthe upheaval is due. Many miners themselves scarcely know what they are out for. Grievances they have always had, but no specific demands have lately been made on the proprietors. Mr Peter Bowling, the miners' secretary, speaking at a lodge meeting, said that indignity alter indignity had been thrust upon members of the federation right throughout the district. He had been told by the proprietors that they would just aa soon fight them as not. The men had borne these indignities until they could stand them no longer. They were compelled to cavil with "blacklegs," and the "blacklegs" had got work.' They had stood this for twelve months.

The proprietors tried to force them to fight, continued the secretary, but now they were ready to fight, and they would beat them. The decision they had come to was a dramatic one, but it/was the only course left open. According to the advices of the executive, stocks of coal were lower than at the time of the last strike.

The miners had referred their claims to a Royal Commission, said the speaker, and a one-eyed Judge had given a decision against them, against the weight of evidence. He mentioned that to show how much justice they could get Jirom a classbidden Judge. If ever there was a time to fight, this was the time.

Received November 9, 1.5 a.m. SYDNEY, November 8. The southern and western miners continue working but the delegates will attend the conference of the three districts o-morrow. The coal lumpers and wharf labourers also meet on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

The northern miners to-day appointed a sub-committee to draw up a list of their grievances. The fact of the i 8 that if the proprietors 'were to say to the men to-night:—"What are you fight ing for, tell us specifically and we will concede it?'' Ttie men would have to postpone the answer until they bad drawn up a list of their grievances.

Several steamers, including the Waitemata, have paid off their crews, and have laid up. Firewood has advanced 50 per cent.