4 DECEMBER 1909, Page 18

On Tuesday. Mr. Lee, the Acting Premier of New South

Wales, announced -that the Government would immediately intervene if necessary to end the coal strike, which for some time has been almost paralysing the life of the Colony. According to Renter's account, he said that the Government would guarantee the fullest possible efficiency of -the public services by taking all the necessary coal from the mines which were at present being worked, and unless masters and men met and put forward a solution of the crisis within a few days the penal provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act would be enforced. Steps would be taken to appoint a compulsory Wages Board. But the question remains how the Government will be able to fulfil its promise. It cannot compel the miners to work, nor can it arrest more than twelve thousand men.