LABOUR TROUBLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9661, 27 November 1909, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

THE NEWCASTLE STRIKEA SERIOUS SITUATION. lALK OF RAILWAY MEN STRIKING. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received November 26, 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. It is rumoured that t'.e Strike Congress is considering the question of calling out the railway men. The position is considered more serious than at any previous time. The Gaa Company ha* now only three weeks' supply of coal, and the Water and Sewerage Board seven weeks'. Preparations are being made f o materially curtail the country railway services. The seamer Kaitangala's crew will be paid off to-morrow, and the vessel laid up. The Strike Committee reports that funds are coming in well. The'strike leaders are indignant at the action of the Railway Commissioners in regard to the haulage of coal.

Mr Hughes, president of the Waterside Workers' Union, claims that it amounts to taking sides against the men, and that it will make harder the task of those who want peace, not war.

Mr Lea has asked both side? in the strike to meet him on Saturday. It is considered very unlikely that the meetings will have any result. The proprietors show no intention of departing from the position they nave taken up. Received November 27, 12.40 a.m. SYDNEY, November 26. The Railway Commissioner states that it is inaccurate to siy that they refused to haul ™aJ. What they decided to do was not to use up their stocks of coal in the haulage of coal unless they were allowed to have first call on supplies taken from the mines at a reasonable price.

STATE COAL MINE TROUBLE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. OHRISTCHURCH, November 26. There is a heavy run on , State coal in C'iristchurch, but there are large stocks on hand to meet the increased demands.

The alarming reports published tbis morning in regard to the Brunner, Blackball and Paparoa miners are lookedjipon as exaggerations. It is reported that the Blackball men favour the State miners, and there are rumours of the men bein» likely to cease work on Saturday, but the officials at the headquarters here dany this, and say that ths company is working amicably under the award, and there has never heen any ill ftlling. To-morrow will be a holiday under the award at the mine, and the annual fete day. All work of ccu.'se ceasep, and the min ers and friends will induce in festivities. GREYMOUTH, November 26. Tl.ere is nothing new to report in connection with the State mine strike. The men are quietly waiting f>r the Government to make a mov \ There are prasistent rumours that unless a settlement 13 soon arrived at the trouble is likely to spread to the other mines.'