NO CHANGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 207, 2 September 1939, Page 18

NO CHANGE.

HUNTLY DISPUTE.

MINERS REMAIN IDLE. OPINION OF COMPANY. Approximately 1000 miners at Huntly are still idle, following the strike that commenced last Monday, when it was apparent that a deadlock had been reached between the union and the employers regarding the dismissal by Glen At ton Collieries, Ltd., three weeks ago, of an elderly employee.

I here were no further developments at Huntly to-day, and it appears that there will lie no move until a decision is made following the report of Mr. T. Hall, who has been representing the miners at a compulsory conference, in Wellington, called bv the Hon. P. C. Webb.

Mr. ( . M. Riehwhite. manager of Glen Afton Collieries, Limited, in an interview at Hamilton yesterday, said that the conference called in Wellington contributed nothing constructive towards the settlement of the dispute, except the suggestion that the proprietors of the (•len Afton colliery should confer with the miners' representatives. It had been pointed out to the Minister that State employees were retired compulsorily at G5 years without any right of appeal to a tribunal. Asked what nge lie thought the company should retire an employee. Mr. Webb did not reply. Had Mr. Webb stated, as he should have done, said Mr. Riehwhite, that the policy ot the Government, so clearly defined in its social security legislation, was that all workers should retire a; 60 and 05, the effect would have resulted in n resumption of work.

The company was agreeable to have the matter under dispute referred to a committee subject to the chairman thereof being a magistrate. Mr. Rich white added that, there were few cases of dairy companies, hospitals and important. industries being out of coal within a week of production ccasinor. The dairy companies suffering from shortage of coal had only themselves to blame, as ample supplies had been available during the last few weeks.

It lias been reported from Cambridge that supplies of coal for the Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company would have run out had it not been for small emergency supplies being made available by neighbouring coal-using concerns.

A meeting of delegates of the Waifcato sub-provincial district of the Farmers' I'nion criticised the Government's failure to end the strike, urped the Government to prevent dislocation of industry, and expressed resentment at the over-riding of Court awards.