DENNISTON MINE TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 7, 8 January 1908, Page 7

DENNISTON MINE TROUBLE.

THE POSITION DEFINED. CBy Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. P. J. O'Regan, chairman of the Wellington Conciliation Board, who has just returned from a visit to tlie West Coast, had an opportunity while there, of learning same thing of the position which has recently arisen at Westport relative to the working of the bank-to-bauk clause at the Denniston Aline. Reviewing the trouble yesterday in conversation with a " Times" reporter, Mr. O'Regan said: " I think I am correct in saying that the timery appearance of Mr. Lonias, Chief Inspector of .Factories, on the scene prevented the matter assuming much more serious proportions than it possibly would have done, So far as public feeling is concerned, 1 think up to a certain point it is with the men, i seeing that the obvious-intention of Parj iiament has not been carried out, but 11 believe public opinion is against the men in not obeying tlie decision of the Arbitration Court in the meantime. I question if the public realise how serious the situation has been, and is. If the Denniston Mines had closed down, the Miners' Unions in other parts of the Dominion were going to act !in unison with the men, and, seeing hew i many industries arc dependent on coal, it would hare meant a general paralysing of industries throughout the Dominion." Mr. Foster, the representative of the Dennistou Miners' Union, it at present in Wellington on business connected with, the " bank-to-bank " disagreement which has arisen on the West Coast. When he was seen by a " Post" representative, he was rather reluctant to say anything at the present moment, but he consented to give the miners' side of the ca-se. " The men's views in this," ho said " That eight hours from bank-to-bank is la-w <tt the present moment, and they wish to work according to law. The company -wishes to fix stated times for going into and out of the mines, but the miners refuse to concede this point. Tlie miners' time for walking in and out of the mines is 36 minute, tlie company is in favour of giving 40 minutes, still that apparent concession of four minutes would keep some men in the mine longer than if they were working on the bank-to-bank system." "Tsut if the men do not work under stated times," Mr. Foster was asked, " what guarantee is there that they will not loiter by the way?" " No possibility of that," he Teplied. Triev si-re Tvorkincr on piece work. As a matter of fact the output to-day (it must be remembered that the men work on the bank-to-bank system) ie as good as it ever was before." " Then you are -working on the bank-to-bank system under protest so far as the company is concerned?" " That is so. We maintain that the law overrides the decision of the Arbitration Court." " And -what is the position? " " Well, I suppose we are liable to be taken before tae Arbitration Court for a breach of its ruling." " And you nre here to get a ruling from the highest Court in the land, the Appeal Court, on the validity of your action? " " Yes, that is the case." Mr. Foster added that he -was here , 'to do his best to have the difference between the miners and their employers amicably settled, and Ec had hopes of accomplishing this end. In the meantime he preferred to say as little as possible about the matter.