Outlook Considered More Hopeful

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23746, 18 September 1942, Page 4

Outlook Considered More Hopeful

NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. The prospects of reaching a settlement in the Waikato coal dispute were brighter for some hours to-day, but negotiations and advances made to both parties failed to achieve results. However, a more hopeful outlook obtained to-night. Between noon, when Mr W. H. hj reeman S.M., adjourned the sitting of the Magistrate's Court, at which he was hearing charges against 195 miners to enable the men to consider a suggestion that they return to worK, and 3.30 p.m., when the Court proceedings were resumed, events moved with great rapidity, as the defendants and their counsel (Mr W. J. King, of Hamilton), the union executive, and the Mayor of Huntly (Mr G. Smith) dealt with proposals and counter-pro-P °Anxiety to see the dispute settled and his readiness to strain the indulgence of the Court, towards that end were expressed by Mr Freeman in considering a request by Mr King that, to facilitate negotiations and a settlement, sentence on the men should be deferred. On the Magistrate's suggestion, the Court adjourned, and the defendants and their counsel proceeded to the hall and discussed the question of giving an undertaking to return to work immediately. While this meeting was proceeding, the Mayor received advice from the Pukemiro mine owners that they were prepared to hand over to an independent body the £l6 wages in dispute, the sum to be held pending a decision by the Disputes Committee. A proposal that a mass meeting of the men be held, at which the Mayor would divulge the full terms of the offer, was rejected by the union executive when the members learned that they could not discuss, but must either accept or reject them. Representations were made by telephone to the Pukemiro directorate in Auckland. A second adjournment of the Court was granted for this purpose. The company was requested to pay the disputed wages direct to the men on the understanding that work would be recommenced. On returning to the Court, Mr King informed the Magistrate that the directors would be unable to meet until to-morrow. He was unable, he added, to give the Court any undertaking at present that the men would return to work immediately. "I think it is the Court's duty to grant the greatest possible indulgencein the way of an adjournment, if that will assist in finding a solution and getting the men back to work," said Mr Freeman. "I am looking at the matter from the national angle. I can readily see that the company must act through the directors, and that that takes time. Having regard to the gravity of the situation and the absolute necessity for the men to be back at work, it would be proper for the Court to give full opportunity to have the dispute settled as soon as possible." He then adjourned the proceedings.