ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 10

ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT.

WILL ACT IF BOTH SIDES DISIRE. APPEAL BY LABOUR LEADER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The Government has no intention at the moment of intervening in the dispute between the coal mine owners and the miners which has led to a national strike. The dispute is regarded as one between the employers and employees. This statement "was made by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. CVE. Macniillan, in reply to a question to-day.

Mr. Macniillan said that at the present time there was no reason for the Government to step in, although they were watching the position closely. He said the Government would not interfere iinlese forced to do so through the occurrence of unlawful acts—of which there was no sign at the moment —or unless there was a unanimous desire by both sides for the State to take part.

The Minister released for publication the text of telegrams which had passed between him and the Leader of the Labour party, Mr. H. E. Holland.

In a telegram to the Minister, Mr. Holland said: "I strongly urge the Government to bring pressure to secure an unconditional conference between the mine owners and the miners. I feel confident that such a conference, if arranged, would result in an agreement under which the mines would continue working. The owners' action in insisting that the miners shall accept a drastic change in the existing conditions in one important particular before the new agreement shall be discussed is wholly untenable and should not be permitted to lay the Coast industry idle."

The Minister replied: "I am informed that the mine owners offered a conference on the West Coast, which was agreed to, but the unions ceased work before the date could be fixed. I suggest, therefore, that you move the unions on the Coast to resume work immediately."