NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9651, 16 November 1909, Page 5

NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

WESTERN COLLIERIES IDLE, THE WATERSIDE WORKERS. LIKELY TO. LEAVE WORK. United Press Association—By Elootrio Telegraph Copyright, Received November 15, 9.35 a.m. SYDNEY, November 15. The "Sydney Morning Herald" says it is known that alternatives to a general strike were proposed at Saturday's conference but failed. The situation appears to be this: The seamen were not in favour of an immediate strike, but the waterside workers were,, Therefore it was determined to ascertain whether the waterside workers would strike, and whether if they did others Wuuld join them. The waterside workers meet this morning, prior to the reassembling of the conference. The "Herald" adds:—"The waterside workers throughout Australia, will almost certainly leave work tomorrow. The Broken Hill miners have also determined to strike if the. waterside workers come out." All the Western collieries are idle. The Northern proprietors have decided to pay up the men's back money. This will amount to about £20,000.

DECISION OF STRIKE CONFERENCE. EFFORTS TO REACH A SETTLEMENT. Received November 16, 12.20 a.m. SYDNEY, November 15. The decision of the Strike Conference to defer a general strike until another effort had been made to reach a settlement has relieved the anxioussituation. When the conference adjourned tonight, Mr Hughes, President of the Wa f ers ! .de Workers' Union, made an official statement to the effect that replies from all branches of the Waterside Workers' Federation had> been favourable to carrying intoeffect the resolution passed at . Tuesday's conference. It remained only for to-day's conference torecommend gthat action shouH be taken.

The details were fully discussed, and a determination reached satis factory to both seamen, whose position in some respects is different to that of other waterside workers, and the allied unions. Everything is in readiness to give effect to Tuesday's decision. The conference, howuver„ is desirous of a peaceful and speedy settlement, and is not despairing thereof, and in spite of the mine owners' refusal of the men's reasonable requests was very anxious to do everything possible to prevent the dispute extending any further, and enabling the parties to come together for a peaceful settlement The result of the deliberations was the adopr tion of the following resolution:-; "Tnat we use every legitimate means to bring about an open conference between the mine owners and men, failing this, to call upon the Government to take over the work of the mines in the interest of the general community." Mr Hughes pointed out that this would give Mr Wade an opportunity of taking the action which he declared his Government was ready to take. The conference will meet again to-monuw fo*e oon. Receive! Novemter 15, 10.5 p.m. SYDNEY, November 15. A mass meeting of waterside workers, after rejecting an ampnd* ment in tavour of, abidirig by any decision Saturday's .adjourned Strike Conference may arrive at, carried a resolution expressing confidence in the Council of the Waterside Work' ers' Federation, and agreeing to the men being caited out when that body thinks fit. This resolution was reported to the Sirike Conf jrence, which reassembled this afternoon. The waterside workers in the meantime ate resuming work. BROKEN HILL, Nov. 15. The combined unions have recommended at levy of 5s a fortnight for the Coal Miners Strike i?'und.