LABOUR TROUBLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9703, 28 January 1910, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

THE COAL STRIKE.

CHARGES AGAINST LEADERS.

SENTENCES OP IMPRISONMENT,

Received January 27, 9.35[p.m. SYDNEY, January 27.

The prosecution of Bowling, Hutton. Butler, and O'Connor unaer the Strike Supression Act, for taking part in a strike meeting at Bulli, was concluded to-day. Bowling was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and the other defendants to eightjmonths each. Bowling, in his address, said that the old Congress had been dissolved, leaving twenty thousand men without leaders. The new Congress was formed with the intention of bringing abcut peaceg as rapidly as possible consistent with the maintenance of unionism. It was disaffection that crept into the council's leaders that led him to abandon hopes of victory he had entertained up to that point. He recognised defeat as inevitable, but it should be accepted by the unionists "as a united body, not in scattered sections. He had advocated peace and a speedy settlement at Bulli. He did not ask for any clemency. If found guilty he had been guilty innocently. If imprisoned he hoped the men who trusted him would not petition for clemency. He would be no friend of his who asked for clemency from a Government that made a criminal of him.

4 Bowling spoke for an hour and a half.

The "judge, in summing up, said the Southern miners had no quarrel with the employers which was not capable of adjustment. When men stiuck on a quarrel which was not theirs, was it not unionism gone mad? Moreover, it was actually suggested that all other unions handling coal should come out. Was that not tyranny?* WMt had other innocent workers of the community done that they should be deprived c£ a necessary commodity. What ofjjthe poor people unable to get coal ? Ine country had been made a reproach among nations because of,the refusal to allow coal to be hewn, and to go forth. The Government had exercised all the forbearance possible in attempting to arrange a settlement. The_Act had been called a Co-ercion Act, but any kind of Act—call it co-ercioir or anything else—which was calculated to bring abuut peace was to be welcomed. Defendants had proceeded in defiance of the law, and he had no djubt that in their private lives they were as good men as could be. He .supposed that some might say it was a crime, but this wa3 "not a crime, though defendants had been guilty of a breach of a section of an Act in the most defiant manner. He could not help noticing and admiring Bowling's natural ability which had raised him to a position of trust, but the information had been proved against him and the other defendants.

There was a tearful leavetaking between the prisoners and their

wives. The crowd cheered the men as they left the court.

WORK NOT TO BE RESUMED. A POSSIBLE WAY OUT. United Press Association—By Electric Teleg»ar-h ".Copyright. Received January 27,10.20 a.m. SYDNEY, January 27. A meeting of the delegates cf the Southern collieries decided by a small majority, against resumption of work, but expressed the opinion that if an interim award of the Wages Board were made there would be a possibility of the men going back.

OBSTRUCTING A CARTER.

EIGHT MEN SENT TO GAOL,

Received January 27, 11 a.m. SYDNEY, January 27. Eight miners, for obstructing a carter, at the Whitburn colliery, in the Northern District, have been sent to gaol for periods ranging from twenty-four days to three months.