SOUTHLAND MINING DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22446, 6 July 1938, Page 18

SOUTHLAND MINING DISPUTE

REFERENCE TO NATIONAL COMMITTEE ■I'BESH ASSOCU.IIOH TF-LIQBAM DUNEDIN, July 5. The Arbitration Court was engaged this afternoon in hearing the dispute which has arisen between the mineowners and miners in the Southland district, but the Court was very much surprised when it learned that the owners desired to open up several new phases of the dispute, as it had been cd to believe that it had only to consider the term of the agreement to be entered into between the parties. Mr ft. J. Macalister appeared for the Southland Coal Mine Owners’ Association and Mr A. McLagan for the union. Mr Justice O’Regan presided. After long argument, his Honour suggested' that the dispute might be taken by the Court at Auckland in August. Evidence could be submitted in writing. Mr Macalister said he was agreeable to this course and to continue to pay the existing rates to the miners. Mr McLagan favoured the dispute going immediately to the National pis • putes .Committee, and Mr Macalister said he would be agreeable to that being done. The dispute will therefore now be heard by the National Disputes Committee. ,

All Ben Ferjani, a Tunisian Nationalist, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprispnment with hard labour for shooting at a French officer in the recent rising.