MINING DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17939, 6 December 1923, Page 8

MINING DISPUTE.

UNIONS AND OWNERS TO

BE PROSECUTED.

(raxss asso'cutios tilbgrui.) WELLINGTON, December 5. The foUowing intimation was received this afternoon from Sir Francis Bell, Attorney-General, by Mr T. 0. Bishop, secretary of Coal Mine-Owners' Association : I regret that the Government proposal to both parties should have been rejected by the unions. There appears to be rlfcw no alternative to allowing the law to take its course. lam therefore djirwting thie immediate prosecution of the unions for unlawful broaches of the award and the separate prosecution of those charged with inciting such action, also an alternative prosecution for an unlawful strike, and inciting thereto. In order that tho unions may have an opportunity of supporting their allegation that the subsequent actions of tho employers constituted an unlawful lock-out. 1 am also directing the prosecution of the employers for that alleged offence, and despatching an identical telegram to the representatives of the unions. (SFBCIAL TO "THB P1III.") GREYMOUTH, December 5. The report that tho miners affected by the deadlock are to be prosecuted for an alleged breach of the Arbitration Court award has occasioned little surprise locally, as it has been rumoured on several occasions that such action was contemplated. The effect may be to bring the dispute to a head. The Miners' Council claims to be in a, sound position financially. It has arrived at a decision to reeall all miners from the Buller district at present working in the Inangahua field. The men who went into the Seddonville Co-operative mines are also to be asked to return. The Miners' Council contends that there has been an increase in the output r.t these mines and that a large number of men have been admitted to the Inangahua mines contrary to the spirit of the agreement. It is also anticipated that no more men will be permitted to leave for other fields. Mr T." Whittle, president of the l>enniston Miners' Union, is at present an inmate of the Westport Hospitr.l, and his place on the Miners' District Council has been taken by Mr W. Coppersmith.