THE COAL STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 207, 14 June 1932, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

MINERS READY TO RESUME. ON UNCONDITIONAL CONFERENCE GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT. (Per Press Association). WESTPORT, This Day. Mr H. E. Holland telegraphed to the Prime Minister as follow: "I strongly urge the Government to bring pressure to secure an unconditional conference between the owners and the miners. I am assured that the miners are ready to resume work under the existing conditions immediately a conference is arranged at which all matters in dispute will be open for discussion with a view to agreement." Mr Holland sent a similar telegram to the Hon. C. E. Maemillan (Minister of Mines). INTERVENTION DESIRED. MINERS APPROACH MINISTER, GREYMOUTH, June 13. The eoal position is unaltered;. All the union mines remain idle. Mr W. Purdy (secretary of the West Coast Miners' Council), said the indications were that the owners did not desire a conference, but only to impose their demands, whilst the Government apparently was shelving the issue regarding a conference which he considered the public, as well as the miners, favoured. "The employers evidently would bleed us white," he declared, "as the attitude they adopt is calculated to drive the miners into a position where they cannot negotiate. If ihey will not meet the West Coast Council we will confer with the owners either at Huntly, Southland or here, but we believe that the West Coast is the proper place for a conference, the other districts in the meantime working like the Coast, under the old agreement." The following telegrams were forwarded to-day by Mr Purdy:— To the Hon. C. E. Maemillan, Minister for Mines: "The conciliatory attitude of the miners is evidently not appreciated by the Government, who remain indifferent. The miners and the public request Government intervention." To the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister: "The miners request that the Government should assist in the arrangement of an unconditional conference .for discussion of the new agreement." Mr Maemillan replied as. follows: "Replying to your telegram to-day, I am advised that the coalmine-owners agreed several weeks ago to confer with representatives of the West Coast Coalminers' Unions, and I have no doubt that such conference will be held at a convenient date, as there is no dispute between the West Coast coalmineowners and the unions. I recommend you to urge the unions to resume work under the existing conditions in the interests of all concerned, and in view of the conciliatory attitude of the miners, I hope the suggestion will be carried out." Mr Forbes replied that he was conferring with Mr Maemillan regarding the miners' representations for an Tinconditional conference. It is understood that the New Zealand Miners' Association has cabled to Great Britain for financial assistance in case a conference should, be refused and a prolonged stoppage result. NO INTERVENTION JUST NOW. J>ECIBION BY THE MINISTER. WELINGTON, This Day. In reply to his telegram of yesterday the Minister of Mines (the Hon. C. E. Maemillan) has received from Mr W. Purdy (secretary of the West Coast Miners' District Council) a telegram to the effect that the present dispute ?s national in character,, suggesting that the only solution is unconditional conference, and requesting that the Minister assist in arranging such a conference. ~,,.. The Minister has replied: "As m my opinion there was no justification, for striking, and as the matter of the conference is solely one between the coal owners and the Coal Miners Union, 1 am not prepared to intervene at present."

ANOTHER TELEGRAM. SERIOUSNESS OF THE POSITION. GREYMOUTH, This Day. In reply to the Minister's telegram to-day Mr Purdy telegraphed to. Mr McMillan: "Owners refuse unconditional conference. Such action is unprecedented, and resumption is impossible with same. The seriousness of the situation demands your intervention." LABOUR PARTY'S DESIRE. WELLINGTON, June 18. Replying to Mr T. C. Bishop's denial that the owners had refused to confer with the miners about the new proposals, the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party says there is apparently some conflict between the mine-owners themselves and MiBishop. The main point of the • Labour Party's statement was that a conference should be held to discuss allproblems without entering into a controversy as to the question of rationing work, minimum wages and balloting to determine who is to stand down. The Labour Party's point was that the conference should bo held at once, and

that every question relative to employment in the mining industry should be the subject of discussion and negotiation at the conference. The Labour Party urged that, in the public interest, either the Government or the mine-owners should call an unconditional conference at once. WESTPORT STOCKS OF COAL. WESTPORT, June 13. The postiion regarding the coal crisis is unchanged. There are approximately 2000 tons of coal in the railway yards with the co-operative mines still working and coal also being drawn from the. companies' bins. There is a volume of opinion here, that the Government, in the interests of the third party, the general public, should intervene with a view to effecting a speedy settlement of the dispute. ""' .'.""•""."" ■'