BY CONTRACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 5

BY CONTRACT.

HIKURANGI MIME. DECISION OF OWNERS. NO ACTION MEANWHILE. RESULT OF CONFERENCE AWAITED The decision of the directors of tha Hikuraiigi Company to work their mine by contract is announced in a circular which was pToted to the miners before notice was received of the Government's intention to intervene. In view, however, of the conference now sitting in Wellington, no action is to be taken until the return to Auckland of the company's delegate, Mr. Leonard J. Stavens. The circular which beam the signature of Sir Edwin Mitelielson, chairman of directors, is couched in the following terms: —

"The directors have, during the piesent strike, exercised the utmost pntience in the hope that mutually satisfactory terms of settlement would be secured. With this end in view, the directors who represented the company at the discussion with the I'liion ripreventatives at the recent conference, waived many important points in the particular condition* applicable to the Hikuraiigi colliery. Over a fortnight ago yon were warned through the I'rem in regard to the position of (ha Hikiirangi Company. At the conference with your representatives, the seri.ni-ness of this position was again stressed. Notwithstanding these warnings, it is now reported that the Hikurangi men have rejected (lie terms offered by the company.

Rights of the Owners. "Tt can only be inforrod that Uie insistence of ths owners 01 tho ii:l\( to engage and dismiss hands, us cireiiinstances iliiiuand, w,is tin , cuihc of 1 !i;» rejection by the miners of the owners' terms. If su-.-h inference lie correct, then we inuet state definitely mid absolutely that, at tlie risk of the field, the owners intend that such a right shall be vested in them as it is in every other industry. Such right uporates in other industries without illj'istioo or unfail'nefls, and would so have been operated by this company. The fear of victim ran - tion is an imaginary and exaggerated one. We state definitely and absolutely that no fairer or bettur terms could, under any circumstances, have been secured by the men. The responsibility for tlie rejection of these terms must reet wi-t the men. Terms of Contract. "On consideration of the whole position, the company has decided that it would be futile to negotiate further in regard to terms of It Has decided to call tenders for the working of the mine by contract. Terms and conditions will be prepare I immediately under which the company will l>e prepared to enter iato a contract for the delivery of coal at the bottom of the shaft. * This will enable those .miners who arc prepared to work under eontract to fix and determine amongrit themselves the hours, conditions, and pay for work done irrespective of the company, and should remove the matters at* present in contention between tho company and its workmen. The company, however, intend.) to keep control of the working of the mine, and thepumping, haulage and surface workings." MINERS NOT YET ADVISED. ATTITUDE OF RETICENCE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. When a " Star " representative made inquiries at Hikurangi to-day regarding the coal company's proposal he found individual miners to be very reticent. They said they had had no official intimation of the company's offer, and preferred to express no opinion until the matter had been discuesed by the men as a body.