COAL STRIKE IN WAIKATO

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23745, 17 September 1942, Page 4

COAL STRIKE IN WAIKATO

“No Settlement Yet In Sight” MAYOR OF HUNTLY MEDIATES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept 16. An approach to the miners and coal owners by the Mayor of Huntly (Mr G. Smith) in the capacity of a voluntary mediator, and endeavours oy him and Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P., to arrange for a mass meeting of the men on strike, were the major developments to-day in the Waikato coal dispute. Although no settlement is yet in sight, a more optimistic feeling has been created by the day’s activities. The first move was made this morning by Mr Moncur. He obtained official permission to convene a mass meeting of the men, and later, in company with the Mayor, discussed with the union executive proposals for a meeting this evening. It was, afterwards said that the executive considered it would be inadvisable to hold a meeting to be addressed solely by two outsiders, and the proposal was dropped. , ~ The Mayor conferred with. the executive in the afternoon and discussed suggestions for finding a solution of the position. The proposals have not been revealed, but the Mayor, in an interview' with a representative of the “New Zealand Herald,” intimated that he had been in touch with representatives of the mine owners in Huntly and Auckland by telephone. “I have teen endeavouring to break fresh 'ground in an effort to reach some agreement by which the miners will resume work,” he said. He added that everyone, including the miners, appreciated the parlous position and the imperative need for a speedy resumption of coal-getting. He hoped that the door lor mediation would be kept open. Apart from the negotiations for a settlement, the chief interest is centred on tlie proceedings to be taken in the Magistrate’s Court to-morrow against 196 Pukemiro men concerned in the original dispute. Advice has been received by Mr F. Findlay, chairman of the Waikato Hospital Board, from the Mayor of Huntly that the miners have agreed to see that hospitals do not run short of coal. LABOUR FEDERATION’S ATTITUDE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 16. The attitude of the Federation of Labour to the stoppage of work in the Waikato mines is made clear in a statement issued to-day. It says that however justifiable the stoppage might be in normal conditions, any action which holds up war production is contrary to the policy of the trade union movement. Continued production and with it the winning of the war is as important in the preservation of the rights and liberties of the workers as the satisfactory settlement of industrial disputes. Moreover, it adds, there is adequate machinery, in which the workers may repose complete confidence, for the adjustment of grievances without the necessity of obstructing the war effort. If the Waikato miners are confident that their case is a good one, they should have no fear of submitting it to a disputes committee. To-day was a time when nothing could be allowed to impede our maximum effort. Effect on Manufacturers The council of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation to-day offered its fullest co-operation in any steps the Government decided were necessary to deal with the crisis caused by the coal strike. Reports already received from manufacturers in the North Island indicate that, although an immediate resumption of work would save a major disaster, damage has already been done in some essential industries that were not fortunate enough to carry stocks of coal.