AFFAIRS AT HUNTLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 305, 21 December 1912, Page 5

AFFAIRS AT HUNTLY.

MEETING OF ARBITRATIONISTS PACKED BY OUTSIDERS. (By TelegrspS.— Own Correspondent.) HUNTLY, this day. lc-sterday 20 miners employed by the Taupiri Coal Co. were notified that*their Mrvices would no longer be required. These were men who refused to join the Arbitration Union, and were merely working from day to day and not receiving the benefits of the. new award. This decision was notified to the men by the deputies, and was taken quietly. It id not expected their dismissal will cause trouble, the action in this direction having been anticipated. The Federationists are not prepared to cause trouble, preferring to join and endeavour to control the new union. There are still about 50 men who refuse to join the new union, or whose applications have been held over. Since the new award came into force the average output per man has shown a considerable increase. I Last night a special meeting of the ■ new union was held to appoint check I weig-hmen, trustees, check inspectors and scrutineers for cavil. The room was : packed to the doors, several arbitration- ; ists being unable to gain admittance. ! About 150 were present, a considerable j number not being members of the union, i including several of the men dismissed in i the afternoon. The Federationists tried jto dominate the meeting, but no disturbj ance was caused. Matters not relevant jto the business were introduced, but Mr Smyth (president of the. new union) handled the situation with considerable tact, averting unpleasantness, though the language of some of both parties was unparliamentary at times. The Arbitratiouists wore aware that an attempt was to br made the meeting, but were confident of their ultimate success, and derided to admit, all who presented themselves. They, however, resent the action of the Federationists in packing the meeting with non-meinbrrs of the new union, contrasting this action with that of the Fpdorati<ini?ts, who never admitted outsiders or the Press. It was decided to lontinno thp present che<-k I weiglimen iv their positions, that they receive 11/ per shift working time, and that future woighmen tie taken off the j fa.cc. Messrs J. Stewart and J. Valentine were elected trustees, and Messrs J. E. Duncan. ,1. Johnson. K. Singer and •J. Patterson were nominated as check in<.pector.- and scrutineers for cavil. A ballot is being taken to-day tn elect two. Mr Duncan I secretary of the Federation T T nion), who was present, made application a week a -go to join the new union as an honorary member. Federation sympathisers at the conclusion of the meeting gave chenrs for the Federation and grnands for the Arbitrationists. The latter took the matter Rood-humour-edly. but declare that non-members will not be allowed to attempt to dominate future meeting*. Yesterday was p.ivday. and today is a holiday. Excepting for t.hf ballni there is no stir. A scarcity of trucks has lately Wn handicapping the coal output somewhat.