MEN PREPARED TO RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 3

MEN PREPARED TO RETURN.

EARLY CONFERENCE WANTED

POSITION ON WEST COAST.

(By Tclcgi'npli.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

A further plea that every endeavour be made to bring the parties to the mining dispute together has been received by the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister or Mines, from Mr. Randle, of the Westport Chamber of Commerce, who says the chamber has received an assurance that the men are prepared to return to work immediately if a definite date is fixed for an early conference with the mine owners.

In reply the Minister has telegraphed that he has received the following advice from the Mine Owners' Association: — "Owners on the West Coast have never refused a conference. They have also agreed that there should be no alteration of working terms and conditions on the West Coast until after the conference has been held. This assurance has been repeated more, than once to Messrs. Purdy and McLagan. The miners on the West Coast declined to wait for a conference and ceased work. Since they ceased work I have had no communication of any kind from them."

"Obviously," said the Minister, "your desire for a conference should be submitted to the miners' unions, w-ho have, the matter entirely in their own hands."