[Editor: This article was published in the Evening News (Sydney, NSW), 27 May 1892.]
Coalminers in Conference.
At the Temperance Hall, Pitt-street, yesterday afternoon, a conference of coal mining delegates, representing the northern, western, and southern districts, was held. There were in attendance Messrs. Adam Cook and James Corley, from the Newcastle district; Messrs. Joseph Cook, M.L.A., J. Owens and W. Rickard, from the Lithgow district; and Messrs. G.Henderson and J. Coulson, from the Illawarra district. Mr. Adam Cook officiated as president, while Mr. G. Henderson acted as secretary. The delegates discussed a scheme for the amalgamation of the three coal-mining districts of the colony, which is to be altogether a matter apart from the amalgamation at present existing through the Australian Miners’ Association.
The amalgamation, it was agreed, should take place on the following basis:
1. That uniform entrance fees and contributions be the fundamental basis of amalgamation, such entrance fee to be 2s 6d and the contributions 6d per week.
2. That in the event of any dispute arising involving 5 per cent. or more of the contributing members any one of the districts wherein the dispute originates shall at once convene a meeting of representatives from each district, to take place in Sydney, to deliberate thereon and to decide what further action is necessary.
3. That in the case of strikes or lock-outs, having received the sanction of the amalgamated districts, each district shall contribute a fair proportional share to the support of the strikers, according to the number of members in each district, such support to be raised by percentage levies upon the members’ gross earnings.
4. During any strike or lockout a fortnightly statement shall be issued showing receipts and disbursements.
5. That each district shall furnish to the other districts a quarterly balance-sheet showing the number of members, the state of the funds, and any other information that may be of service.
6. That the eight-hour principle shall be strictly adhered to by the districts concerned therein.
Drafts of the scheme, which were signed by the delegates on behalf of the districts they represented, are to be forwarded to the various lodges of the three districts for consideration.
Source:
Evening News (Sydney, NSW), 27 May 1892, p. 4
Editor’s notes:
d = a reference to a penny, or pennies (pence); the “d” was an abbreviation of “denarii”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
eight-hour principle = the principle of workers not having to work more than eight hours per day
Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)
M.L.A. = Member of the Legislative Assembly
per cent. = an abbreviation of “per centum” (Latin, meaning “by a hundred”), i.e. an amount, number, or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100; also rendered as “per cent” (without a full stop), “percent”, “pct”, “pc”, “p/c”, or “%” (per cent sign)
s = a reference to a shilling, or shillings; the “s” was an abbreviation of “solidi”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
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