HIKIRANGI COLLIERY STRIKE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 136, 7 June 1912, Page 5

HIKIRANGI COLLIERY STRIKE

COMPANY'S POX3TT OS , VIEW, ; AHnEGED T7KT?ATT?. TREATMENT. "The company considers it has been very badly treated by the Hlkxtrangi Union," said Colonel 'W. D. Holgate, managing director of the Northern Coal Company, -whan approached- tiy a "Star" reporter this morning on the matter of the strike at Hikurangi. "3Lbout months ago an agreement was entered, into with the union and the Federation of Labour, Mr. Webb at the time making a boast t/hat an agreement entered into with tha.t body was more binding than any award given 'by the Arbitration Court. Within one montSi of the signing of agreement the men went out on strike without giving any intimation to either the federation or the directors of the company. It is only fair, however, to say that ,upon that occasion they did not get the support of the Federation of Labour, but were recommended to go back to work, which they did. Practically the same thing that happened one month after the agreement was entered into has happened on this present occasion—the men having gone out on strike without giving any notice whatever to either the manager at Hikurangi or the directors. The reason for their going out we do not clearly understand yet. The agreement has been strictly adhered to on our side. I, as managing director, visit the mine about every fortnight, and have never received any deputation, nor have I been interviewed by any of the Miners' Union officials re any matters in connection with the working of the mine. The loss caused to the company by the strike is pretty considerable, as we have to purchase Newcastle coal to supply our contracts, and, in addition, we have to lay up out steamer and some of our boats, and pay the men Off." ""How do matters stand at present ? ''Seeing that the agreement was entered into with the Federation of Labour, we naturally corres-ptmded with tha.t body, and have also referred the matter to the. Mine Owners' Association, of which ■Wβ axe members-" "Is it correct that the men have asked for a. conference?"

""Yes, tut as we are communicating with the federation, which is part and parcel of the agreement; we wish to know definitely what action it is adopting before any other step is taken. In addition to that, the matter having been referred to the Owners' Association, we are now waiting for their advice."' ■'"It is said the men at Hikxrrangi are getting uneasy'?" "In reference to that I may say that it is no fault of our> that the men are out on strike, neither did they corsider the interests of the company when they 'downed tools,' thereby breaking their agreement. We certainly claim that we were entitled to be informed of the position before the men took such an extreme step."'