COALMINING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 6

COALMINING INDUSTRY.

TROUBLE IN THE SOUTH. The Kaitangala correspondent of the "Clutha Leader" writes:—"lt has been stated on thoroughly reliable authority that a crisis is at hand in the coal mining industry throughout the Dominion. It would appear that, although registered as a union under the Arbitration Act, the Dominion Miners' Federation has not the status which can compel mine-owners to meet the federation representatives in conference in the settling of disputes, i the employers declaring their decision to j confer only with the individual unions | through the medium of the Conciliation! Council and Arbitration Court. The j federation endeavoured to bring about a. I settlement of the Homcbush troubles, but | Mr. Deans (managing director of the j Homebush Coal Company) declined to meet the federation representatives in an official capacity. This action has shown the federation wherein its weakness lies, and it is now about to approach the Government with a demand for the right to compel a conference and its official recognition as a body to represent the unions affiliated with the federation. At the present moment the awards of no fewer than eight unions have expired, and it may be assumed that consequent Upon the present high cost of living in j the Dominion demands for substantial increases in rates and wages will be presented to the employers. Evidently the mask is about to fall from the federation ; at anyratc it will be interesting to learn the exact meaning of the significant words, 'Drastic* action will be taken' if the Government fails to grant the federation's demands within 14 days. If this means 'strike,' it simply amounts to an action which, at the present June? turc, would tend seriously to affect the mining industry when not only the people of the Dominion, but the Empire, must obtain supplies of steam coal for the use of factories, and also, of paramount importance, the navy and transports. So far as tlie Kaitangata miners are concerned there scorns to be little concern in respect to any call of 'down tools' from the federation. At a recent ballot the miners decided by 19 i to 20 in favour of taking their dispute with the employers before the Conciliation Council or Arbitration Court, and it has been freely asserted that any such call made by the federation would at once bring about the cancellation of the union's affiliation with the Dominien body."