NO VALID REASON

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 222, 15 June 1932, Page 10

NO VALID REASON

Strike of State Miners MINISTER’S ATTITUDE Position on the West Coast TELEGRAMS EXCHANGED The attitude of the Government toward the «enerally and the actions of the'State particular, was defined y. m n fster of Mines, Hon O. in the course of an inters iew > day. ’ SS* .waged b, the State 5S S %h«’eSe>a E a dephX S™ th. Stat. Coal Union at Runanga on May 23 as Min ister of Mines, I asked the reason for the short strike of two days. I_ was told that it was in sympathy with the miners’ comrades and against the diabolic conditions proposed. “I replied that I was not aware of them until the day before at Brunner I further told the deputation that the miners could expect revised rates of pay and conditions to be s to them for consideration, and that these conditions would be commensurate wRh economies effected by the Nationa Expenditure Adjustment Act, so that although the money paid would not be as much as before, the goods able to be obtained by the lesser money would be as great or greater. Preventing Importations. This would leave the miners no worse off. the Minister added. By passing the economies on to the coal consumers by giving cheaper coal, it was hoped to increase the consumption of local coal by keeping out importations. This would produce several good results. First, more miners would be at work, or more time would be provided for those at work; and secondly,; more freight would be obtained by the railways and there would be more employment for wharf labourers. With the increased purchasing power of each pound, and with more money in local circulation, there would be an increased ability to purchase New Zealand produced commodities. The greatest asset the miners or any section of the community had was the goodwill of the rest of the people. He begged the unions’ representatives not to destroy this goodwill, but rather to foster it . “To-day I would appeal to the public of New Zealand not to allow its judgment to be Influenced by a few extremists in the mining industry, but to continue in Its request for New Zealand coal, even if at some temporary inconvenience and personal sacrifice,” the Minister concluded. “Strike Unjustified.” The opinion that there was no justification for the strike on the West Coast was expressed in a telegram sent by the Minister yesterday to the secretary of the West Coast Miners’ District Council, Mr. W. Purdy. On Monday the Minister recommended Mr. Purdy to urge the unions to resume work under existing conditions, pending a conference, as there was no dispute between the West Coast coal mine owners and the unions. The following reply was received from Mr. Purdy:— “Your telegram received. Present dispute national in character. Only solution to my knowledge unconditional conference. Please assist in arrangement of same.” The Minister telegraphed to Mr. Purdy as follows yesterday:—“As in my opinion there is no justification for striking, and as matter of a conference is solely one between coal owners and coal miners’ unions I am not prepared to intervene at present.” MR. HOLLAND’S REQUEST Unconditional Conference Wanted By Telegraph—Press Association. Westport, June 14. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., has telegraphed to the Prime Minister as follows :— “.Strongly urge the Government to bring pressure to secure an unconditional conference between the owners and miners. Am assured miners are ready to resume work under existing conditions immediately a conference is arranged at which all the matters in dispute will be open for discussion with a view to agreement.” Mr. Holland sent a similar telegram to the Minister of Mines (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan).