THE WAIHI CO. AND THE MINERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 55, 6 March 1901, Page 2

THE WAIHI CO. AND THE MINERS' UNION.

STATEMENT BY ME BAEEY

TELEGEAM FEOM THE FEEMIEB*

(By Telegraph.-'-Own C6rre__ oMdftt;}^--

WAIHI, this day,

Mr E. Tregear, Secretary of the Labour Department, arrived in Waihi yesterday afternoon, and intefvietved ithe Miners' Union officials i-e the action of the -Waihi Company.* M*_ Tregear and Mr Jackson Palmer will wait on Mr Barry, the mine manager, and request the reinstatement of the dismissed men. In any ease the Conciliation Board will probably -it, fo_ the wages dispute, involving other branches of the Union, must be settled. A vote on this question takes place on Saturday night at a special meeting of the Union.

Mr Palmer has been in communication With the Premier over the difficulty, and the entire case has beeri placed before the Government! Mr Palmer received a wire from Mr Seddon, saying that he had received , a telegram from Mr Barry. Stating that the men's demands are preposterous, and that he does not consider ;he i.s actihg 'contrary to justice arid equity in dismissing unsuitable mem who, without giving other reasons? are actively employed ih promoting strife amongst their fellow workmen to quarrel with their employers. Mr Seddon adds that this will not tend to "solve the difficulty. The men naturally repudiate Mr Barry's statement* Mr. Potts, president of the Thames Miners' Union, arrives in Waihi thiS afternoon. The Hon. Mr. Duncan arrives next Tuesday.