LABOUR TROUBLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9659, 25 November 1909, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

NEWCASTLE STRIKE. HOPEFUL SIGNS. United Press ivssoeiation—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received November 24, 8.4 a.m. SYDNEY, November 24. It is rumoured at Newcastle that dissensions exist among the colliery proprietors, and that Ihere is a possibility of some of them breaking away from the Vend. It is further otated that, rather than allow the Vend to be dissolved, the proprietors may consider the advisability of ending the strike. In one southern district the miners' lodges have recommended the executive that, if the men were granted! the eight hours from bank to bank, they would be willing t'j resume work pending a conference. Mr W. M. Hughes, president of the Waterside Workers' Federation and a former member of the Fisher M ins try, states that Mr Bowling's scheme for working a mine is completed, but the time for starting work has not yet been fixed.

Mr Hughes scouts the idea of the Federal Government taking lega 1 action in the matter under the Commerce or anti-Trusts Acts. He points out that the alleged coal combine has been in operation undsr th-3 shade of these Acts .for months, and nothing has been done. He thinks the Miners' Federation, like the combine, may sleep SDundly of nights. The threatened Acta will not hurt them, whatever else does.

THE STATE MINE STRIKE. AUSTRALIAN VIEW OF THE TROUBLE. Received November 24, 9.50 a.m. SYDNEY, November 24. Both the morning papers comment on the strike of the New Zealand State coalminers. The "Daily Telegraph says: "The l.ng arm of co-incidence has seldom indulged in a '"ore selfish freak than that which brings about the New Zealand strike just when Mr MeGowen and his followers have come out to demand nationaliastion of our coalminas as the only means of prevention of a strike." The "Sydney Morning Herald" declares that the. Nev Zealand strike throws up t v u boasted stability of State control in a lurid light.

MATTERS QUIET. By Telegraph—Press Association, GREYMOU I'H, November 24, The miners had a meeting this morning, but nothing has transpired so far. "RUN" ON COALDEALERS. CHRISTCHURCH, November 24. The supply of coal in Christchurch is ample for some lime, and if the dispute at the State mine is settled son p and a prolonged strike avoided, little inconvenience will be felt, and no rise tike place in the price cf coal. However, all int.-rested in t.-u cosl business feel the position is very uncertain, and, owing to good organisation of the miners throughout New 7 aland, there are fears tl a th e difficulty mry ns.sume great r dimensions an I atFict all other mi e.«. There has been a considerabl a "run" by householders on ccaldealers, and heavy rri ate t.r'ep hwe teen given.

AT OThER MINES. By Telegraph—l'ress Association. WESTPORT, November 24.. Work 13 going along briskly at the miner) at Uenniston, Millerton, Ngawakqu, and Seddonville. At Danni;stoii a claim was made by the men for tome slight increase, but was held over pending the arrival of Mr Dixon, district superintendent at Wellington, from Australia next Thursday week. So far as can be ascertained, the men in this district have no serious

grievance?. GKEYMOUfH, November 24. Matters in connection with the strike at the State mine have not changed, both sides awaitinp developments. There appears to be a keen determination on the part of the men to remain firm, and they contend that they have not been fairly treated. It is asserted that the struggle will be a lengthy one unless the Government give way on the matters under dispute. There is very little to report as everything is quiet at the State mine, and most of the miners are in town.

The miners state that they are prepared to remain quiet until the Department makes the move. As far as they are concerned they will not consent to the reductions in the hewage rates, and unless the Government consent to do the trucking the strike will last for some time.