NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9994, 15 March 1910, Page 5

NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

WHAT IT COST TRADE SUFFERS A SET BACK. United Press Association—l y Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received March 14, 10.25 a.m. SYDNEY, March 14. A million pounds in the shape of wages was lost by the Newcastle strike.

The Victorian Government trade, which practically represents 300,000 tons yearly, has been lost through the opening of the Powlett River (Victoria) mine, the trade with the Philippines has received a set-back, and the coal industry will take some time to recover.

BOREHOLE MINERS FRACTIOUS,

SYDNEY. March 14.

The borehole miners are fractious, and will not return to work to-day. They complain that the management, contrary to an undertaking given to

Mr Charlton, the miners' representative on the Wages Board, is endeavouring to make alterations in the working conditions.

FREE LABOURERS. TO BE REPRESENTED ON WAGES BOARD. NOTHING TO PREVENT A GENERAL RESUMPTION OF WORK. Received March 14, 11.15 p.m. SYDNEY, March 14. The Industrial Court has granted the claim of the Free Labourers Association that it be represented on the Wages Board. The Wharf Labourers' Union strongly opposed the application. Judge Heydon, in granting it, said he thought it very singular that the dismissal of free labourers at the Central Wharf a fortnight ago was rendered possible by the fact that the Act contained no provision for protecting non-unionists against such treatment. Had unionistsgbeen dismissed because they were unionists instead of non-unionists being dismissed because they were non-union-ists the employers would be liable to penalties aggregating £3,000. If the right to work was not right which law should protect them, it was hard to say what it was. To be a non-unionist was not an offence against the law. The Judge said he was afraid that strong feeling would be aroused, but came to the conclusion that the free labourers' claim must be conceded with. NEWCASTLE, March 14.

Work was resumed at the mines this morning. Hitches occurred at some of the collieries over the working conditions. In one or twc cases these were adjusted, and the men will commence work to-morrow.

There appears to be nothing'in the troubles to prevent a general resumption within the next day or two.