NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9650, 15 November 1909, Page 5

NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

EFFECTS SEVERELY FELT. MELBOURNE FACTORIES CLOSED. L (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. SYBNtEY, November 13. The effects of the strike are being severely felt at Newcastle. The export of coal duringcthe week just ended amounts to 1.-SOO tons, as compared with IO.OOOgtoDs in the previous week, and 'SQjOQO i tons for the corresponding week(last year. The ■ general trade of the .town is at a -standstill. Advices reccuved at>Sydney ftate .that a shipment .of-caal has already -loft Hongkong for Australia, and quotations are being received from Natal and Japaa for deilivered within a aaouth. (Reports from other States indicate that the effects of ithe • strike are becoming serious. lin Melbourne there is an increasing tendency; to reduce the number of hands .employed in the (large manufacturing ;;and commercial establishments. ' All existing coal supply .contracts in Melbourne terminated yesteday, the contractors taking advantage of the strike clauses in the agreements. The Australian Paper Mills Proprietary has closed its wrorks in Melbourne and Geelong, ©na acaouiit of ttoe ladoaf coal.

A DISCONCERTING DEVEJiUPMENT. Received Novemoer 15, 12.45 a.m. •SIDNEY, Noverrfe©r a<'4 Although no official information da obtainable there is reason to behave that some disconcerting development occurred at yesterday's conference, rendering Sit oxecessary fox' the delegates to again .confer with tne executives of tbe various unions sented. After this has ths conference <w*Jl ne resumed tomorrow afternoon..

The rumoured .attitude of the Seamen's Union may mean that the striKe will not exitend beyond this state.

Mr Bowling has re&uned to Newcastle, presumably to confer with the Miners' Executive.. WOOL SALES POSTPONED. Received November 16, 42.45 a.m. BRISBANE, November 14, The wool sale fixed for yesterday wss postponed, buyers defining to optrate pending developments in connection with the Newcastle strike

WESTERN MINES CLOSING DOWN. • SYDNEY, November 13. The Mount Keira miners laid down their tools last night. All the Southern miners are now out. An aggregate met ting of the Western miners decided t'o cease work immediately. It is expected that all pits will be idle to-day. At the coke works at Bulli and Bellambi the men have been paid off m A the works closed. The outlook is considered anything but hopeful, and ftars of a general strike are increasing. The strike leaders state that the obj : ct of a general strike is to roupe public opinion to coerce the mine-owrier3. Addressing the Hetton Lolar?, one of the delegates anno-inceci that the miners were not going to allow any one to try to work the rr.i:-.cF. Mr Bowling secretary of the Miners' Federation expressed the opinion that the waterside and other unions would come out if called. Ti.e spirit of unification amongst the unions was hever.so strong "as to-day. Nothing would be done to hurt the public that Vould be avoided, but it | was a fight for supremacy, and the unions must have ail the power they could get. Mr Bowling mentioned that he had offers of assistance from all part 3 of Australia and New Zealand. MELBOURNE, November ,13. Asked in the Federal House whether he had not power under the law of Eminent Domain to work the mines, as President Roosevelt intended to do at one time in America, the Prime Minister (Mr Deakin) stated that the .law of Eminent-Do-main did not exist to the same extent in Australia as in America. Ihe Commonwealth Government, Mr Deakin said, had not control over lands as the Amer-'can Government had. BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLIES. APPREHENSION OF • . . IMPORTERS LONDON, November 12. At a conference of the leading butter and rabbit importers and agents, anxiety was expressed as to the result of the Newcastle strike, and the possibility of lessened supplies being allowed by tha marketing of accumulated stocks. Though most of the c.i.f. contracts contain a strike clause, the resu'ts of delaying shipments would be disastrous.