LABOUR UNREST

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20262, 3 August 1937, Page 7

LABOUR UNREST

DISPUTES IN AUSTRALIA. i i COALMINING INDUBTRY. 4635 MEN IDLE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. SYDNEY, August 2. The Sun states that although a genstoppage of work on the coalfields has not been ordered yet 3190 miners at nine mines on the northern and ■southern fields went on strike today and stoppages at other collieries brought the total to 4635. Efforts are being made to settle the major dispute regarding wages and hours at a compulsory conference, which was opened this afternoon before Mr Justice Cantor, of the State Industrial Commission. His Honour appealed to the parties to try to avoid a complete Hold-up of the Industry and adjourned the conference In the hope that minor disputes at Broken Hill Proprietary’s collieries would be settled. Subsequently It was announced that the efforts In that direction had been successful. Mr Justice Cantor stated that a tentative agreement had been reached for the reopening of, and resumption of work at, all the Broken Hill collieries and the conference on the miners’ log was adjourned until to-morrow. A STAY-IN STRIKE. REFUSAL OF CONFERENCE. AUSTRALIAN GAS COMPANY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. ADELAIDE, August 2. A stay-in strike of 450 men employed by the South Australian Gas Company was begun at 8 a.m. to-day as a protest against the refusal of the company to confer with the men about a new award demanded by them. Only sufficient gas Is stored for 24 hours, but It is understood that the company is confident .of its ability to maintain production.