IDLE MINERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 139, 12 June 1912, Page 8

IDLE MINERS

INACCURATE STATEMENTS. fBT TELECTtAPH — I'UCSS ASSOCIATION.] ! WAIHI, 11th June. Further allegation om to the inaccuracy of the allegationo made by Air. Howard, president ot" the General Labourers' Union cf Canterbury, aie furnished by the Waihi Engiijedriveia* Union executive. Mr. Howard stated that the majority cf the drisere on the Held were not membens of the new union nor sympathetic with it, and that the employers were responsible for its formation. The detailed figurts show that the total enginedrivers employed .numbsr SBventy-one, of whom eight are members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (already under the Arbitration Act). The new union's membership totals fortytwo, thus le?..vii!y ouly |.wenty-oc« drivers who are not under the Arbitration Act. Of these iome havo adopted a, .neutral attitude towards the dispute. To the allegation thai the employers were in any way responsible for the new union the executive give au emphatic denial, and challenge Mr. Howard to disprove its figures and btatcinent. WESTPORT -LEVY. - WESTPORT, 11th June" At a meeting of the WesLport General Labourers' Uniou to-night about 2lm were present. It was decided to make « levy of 2s 6d per week per man (equivalent to five per cent, on wages) on behalf of the families, of miners at Waihi and Rcefton. SUGGESTED INTERVENTION. REEFTON, This* Day. The Chamber of Commerce last night strongly endoised the FUggeetion that tho Hon. J. Colvin should intervene in< the Reefton dLipute, and assured him of it« confidence. The- Miners' Union are holding an important business meeting on Thursday night. Every day Fees the ranks of tho men employed in town thinning. Most, of the single v men have obtained jobs elsewliere aiul comparatively few are hanging about. The feeling against, tho Arbitration Couit is getting very bitter. WATERSIDERS' REFUSE ASSISTANCE. i GREOIOUTH, 'Ihis Day. ! The Greymouth. Waterside Workers decided not to make a levy to assist the Waihi and Reefton miners, the reason aeaigned being that they were under the Arbitration Court.