THE COAL TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 8

THE COAL TROUBLE.

In agreement with Phil Garlic re the absurdity of the present coal trouble to the average citizen, I crave a little of .your valuable space. Contrary to all precedent that an existing agreement should continue until superseded by another, the owners immediately on the expiry of the last agreement submitted another containing a number of drastic alterations and stated definitely that after fourteen days' notice the new agreement would commence. The conference mentioned was only conceded when the miners made it clear they had no intention of working under the new agreement. The breakdown •of that conference was more the work of the owners than the miners, who should have been asked to discipline their members and withdraw.the notices pending a settlement. Mr. Bishop's inference that the second stoppage at Hikurangi was due to an outside delegate coming in seems unwarranted to those who know that outside delegates were sent io Hikurangi at the request of his association. Again, in his wording of the clause on which the second attempt broke down, Mr. Bishop omits the word "unrestricted," and adds others that tend to cloak the nakedness of the clause, as it ie really intended to be used. . The power asked is such that no man should be given the Tight to use or abuse, and this discretion will not remain with the manager, but will ultimately rest with those in higher authority. Mr. Bishop does well to say that given this clause the conference may'go on, as it is quite evident that under present labour conditions, once this clause is conceded, everything else falls into their hands like so much rotten fruit,' if not next week, then certainly within a few short months. In conclusion, I should like to recall that Mr. Bishop at the Arbitration Court when it decreed a 10 per cent reduction, was a strong advocate' of the principle of rationing or sharing work. Why this sudden swing round! Also that at a conference with the owners early this year they agreed, in the event of a further reduction of hands, it woiild be, "Last comers on to go off." Wtiy this change as well? If the owners are really desirous of a settlement they could bring it about to-morrow, but if they are determined to go on with their smashing frontal attack, then it will be the duty of all workers to eee the miners are not too readily beaten, or it will be their turn in the near future. «, WAIKATO MINER.