MINERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 334, 22 October 1908, Page 4

MINERS' CONFERENCE.

ATTITUDE ON STRIKES. THE "RESERVE WEAPON." The Now Zealand Federation of Minors continued their sitting in tho committee room, Towji Hall Buildings, yesterday. The unions represented wore:—Waihi, Messrs. Armstrong and Scanlon; Inangahna, 'Messrs. J. Fry and J, Malloy; Waikato, Messrs. R.- Manning, J. Fulton, and T.. Grundy; State Mines, Dunolly, Messrs. R. Scmple and J. Glover; Granity, Mr. J.. Dowgray; Denniston, Mr. J. Foster; Hikurangi, Mr. T. Johnson; Blackball, Mr. P. IT. Hickey; Seddonvillo State Mine, Messrs. Hopkinson and W. Hambley; Grey Valley Workers, Mr. G. Newton. Mr. It. Semple, president, was in the chair. The First Ofiice-bcarers. At the morning sitting, the following officers were elected for tho year:—President, Mr. Robert Semple (Stato Mines, Dnnolly); vice-president, Mr. F. Armstrong (Waihi); secretary, Mr. R. Manning (Waikato); treasurer, Mr. J. J. Scanlon (Waihi); executive, the foregoing, and Messrs. J. Dowgray (Granity), C. Fry (Inanguhua); and John Foster (Denniston). ■ Question of Registration. Mr. Malloy (Rcefton) moved: — That the New Zealand Federation of Miners bo registered under tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The federation would, he said, he doubly fortified by so registering. Mr Hanibley (Scddonville) seconded. Mr. Hickey (Blackball) moved as an amendment :— ; That this federation defer registration until • such timo as they- have had • an opportunity of judging the workings of new amendments, and that ill tho meantime this federation register under the Trades Union Act. Further, that a referendum bo taken on the question and submitted to the next conference. He pointed out that some drastic alterations had been, made in the existing law. In viow of some of tho drastic clauses recently added, he would adviso the deferring of registration until they had. an opportunity of judging how the amendments would work when brought into force. At next conference they would bo in a better- position to say whether they should register under that Act. In order that they might have some legal standing in the meantime he would recommend registering under the Trades Union Act. Mr. Dowgray (Granity) seconded the amendment, believing that tho wholo voice of Labour should bo heard on tho. matter. Mr. Armstrong (Waihi) favoured the amendment:' It would be wrong for the Federation to register under an Act that stood condemned. In the north they had not, received tho same consideration from the Arbitration Court, as had been accorded tho southern workers. The award rate for tho man who "whaled" the pick and shovel 011 the northern goldfields was three half-crowns a day. ("Shamel") If tho Arbitration Court was to be of any use, the minimum rate of wages fixed by them must apply to every man who worked. Mr. Fry (Inangahua) said that unless men reserved their right to strike and mould their own destiny they would become slaves. The judge of tho Arbitration Act had tho power of'the .Tsar. If they were going to fix the price of labour, as now, it was only right that the cost of living should also be fixed. He would vote for the motion. •Mr. Fulton (Waikato) said that his good opinion in regard to tho administration of tho Arbitration Act had been altered. There was a tendency to unfairness 011 the part of those who administered it. In Waihi, 011 one occasion, the owners of a mine had'be^n''willling to pay lis.,, and' tho Court I 'had como along and fixed the wage at 10s. Tho workers reserved tho right to strike as a last resource, and would not lay down' that reserve weapon. They ought to take a determined stand, intending- to break-away, from anything that was going to be tyrannical. • Mr. Johnson (Hikurangi) said that he had been instructed■ to"stand"up for-the' pifeseiit Arbitration Act, and ho would support the motion.

Mr; Glover (Groymouth State Mine) made it clear that they were , not going to talk of strikes; they were not threatening at all. At the samo time, their love of liberty was greator than their abhorrence of strikes. Ho supported the amendment. ' Mr. Foster (Denuiston) also spoke in favour of the amendment. Mr. Manning (Waikato) remarked that tho laws, although not quite satisfactory, had been made by the people,- by the workers, and they should support the law. He wanted •the matter of registration to go to a referendum of the unions. • ' Mr. Grundy (Waikato) said they recognised that the Act at present was detrimental/ to the workers. The best course to take in this matter of registration was to allow it to be considered by all the unions. Mr. Hopkinson (Seddonvillo) said he' had been instructed to vote for registration under the Arbitration Act. The chairman said ho was inclined to support the amendment. Looking back,- it was at once seen that unless the worker had reserved his right to strike he would have been crushod under tho hand of capitalism. Not 0110 member at the conference wished to see more strikes, but when liable to be strangled by unjust conditions of employment the worker was not to bo deprived of his only weapon. They wanted an intelligent revolution, and laws made in the interests of their class. The worker was groping for some remedy which would ensure justice for the worker in tho Arbitration Court. The Blackball strike was 'something to romember, as an example of tho ineffectiveness of the Arbitration Court. They were not attempting to introduce anything that would set tho country 011 fire, to bring about strikes, but to organise a reasonable resistance and a reasonable advocacy for a just and fair condition of things for the worker. Tho majority _of the workers of the Dominion were dissatisfied with their lot, and tho intention of the federation was to work out their economic emancipation by reasonable and fair means. (Applause.) The only way they could do good was by direct protest to thoso in authority. Tho amendment was carried by 33 votes to 11. The voting was:—For tho amendment— Waihi, Waikato, Granity, State Collieries, Blackball, Denniston. For the motion —Mokihinui, Grey Valley Workers, Hikurangi, Inangahua and Koripaka. The general secretary was authorised to forward ballot papers to tho various unions, sufficient for tho whole of the members, with instructions that the voting papers should bo returned when filled in. It was agreed that the referendum should be decided on the bare majority.

Sick and Accident Fund. Mr. Armstrong (Waihi) moved:— That it bo a recommendation to the executive to urge tho striking of a dut.v upon gold for the benefit of. the miners' siclc and accident fund. Mr. Armstrong claimed that the occupation of the goldminer was very unhealthy, and just as dangerous as that of the coalmin'er. (llembors: "More so.") What was good for tho coalminer was good for the goldminer. Such a proposal as this had been first made by. tho West Const Miners' Unions, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to get it through tho House. Another attempt last session had also failed. Tho contract system in tho mines in and about Waihi had .increased the percentage of 'accidents -to an alarming extent. His union paid to its members' a weekly accident pay of £1, and at the present timo it was paying about £18 per week in accident pay. Tho union could no longer carry on; it must either increaso tho contributions or do away with tho accident pay altogether: Seeing that the rate ;'of wages was so low, tho miners were entitled to a share of the wealth they in compensation for the risks they ran. -He'had'been a memb'er of deputation's which had waited on the Prime Minister and the Hon. Mr. M'Gowan, but .tho men had failed to get a concession from the •Liberal Government (if to-dav which had tyeen conceded to the conlminers by' u doßjoisod Tory Government iu 1881.

Mrs Hickey seconded, and the motion was carried. In Hot Places. Mr. Scanlon, from tho AVaihi Union, moved That steps bo taken to urge tho passago of legislation -providing for a sixhour shift for minors in place's whero tho temperature exceeds 8U degrees. In some of tho AVaihi mines, be said, they were getting down to a low level, and an eight-hour shift under such conditions should bo stopped. Mr. Malloy (Itocfton) seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. One delegate urged that not only should tho shorter shift be introduced when the temperature got too high, but also in cases whore it got -below, say, freezing point. A reduction of hours was provided for when tho temperature got too high or too low, but no limit had been specified. Monopoly of Mining Land. Mr. Scanlon (Waihi) further moved: —_ That steps be taken to secure legislation to opposo all unreasonable consolidation of leases. e • The mover said that 0110 big company had monopolised all tho land for miles round about Waihi. The small companies struggled on for a time, but in the end wore compelled to sell out to tho stronger company. .Mr. Manning (Huntley) seconded, and the motion was agreed to. General. Mr. P. J. O'Regan attended by invitation, and explained tho provisions of the new Workers' Compensation Act. The conference passed a hoarty vote of thanks to Mr. O'Regan for the explanation mado. Tho conferenco will meet again this morning.