MINERS' FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 4

MINERS' FEDERATION.

I INDIFFERENCE AT WATHI. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) WADZI, thia day. ; A special meeting of the Miners' Union wa l held on Saturday night in connection • w»th the proposed federation of miners 1 throughout the'Ttominion, but apparently very little interest is manifested, the at- , tendance being so small that the president, Mr. Armstrong, deplored the want of enthusiasm in so just a cause. A special meeting, he said, had been called a. month ago to discuss the matter, but fell 'through, there being no quorum present. The Executive Council and Management Committee then considered the question conjointly, and decided to send delegates to a conference at Wellington, and that the proposed federation should be brought about. Certain alterations 'had 'been made to preamble by the subcommittee appointed, and it was for the meeting now to consider them. Considerable discussion had ensued in respect of claim of the preamble, which stated that the object of federation was "for the purpose of securing the return of members to Parliament pledged to support and carry out the policy of labour." The sub-committee, he said, had erased practically the whole of the clause and substituted the following: "For the purpose of securing the return of members to Parliament pledged to support and carry out a, policy advantageous to the mining industry." After the matter had been fully discussed, it was eventually carried that the clause as originally drafted Temain as it was. Several other clauses were adopted, and Messrs. H. T. Armstrong (president) and Scanlon (secrotary) were appointed to proceed to Welliagiton to attend the conference which opens on Monday next. At the termination of the business the president drew the attention of members of the union to the fact that the financial position required consideration. He said that the amount of accident pay was increasing to an alarming extent, and they would have to either aboiisn payments in this connection or make a separate fund, as it was impossible to carry on under the present system of contributions. He intended moving in the matter at the next monthly meeting of the union. Mt. Johnson urged that the Government be communicated with on the subject with the object of having something done. It was decided to allow the matter to stand in abeyance until next monthly meeting.