LABOUR MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 9, 10 July 1912, Page 2

LABOUR MATTERS

OTAGO MINING DISPUTES PLACID ON THE SURFACE. £bt tblbgbami— special to thb jost.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Matters in connection with the Otago coal mining disputes seem placid on the surface, but there is a strong andertow. Whilo some employers are talking about throwing down the gauntlet, it appears that the miners are preparing to have (to use a phrase of laboor) "a fight with tie gloves off." The subsidiary unions are being approached by the Otago Union (Federation) officials, with the object of entering into a sort of war agreement to the effect that while the Kaitangata men are battling with the mine-owners the smaller unions will continue work and contribute from 15 to 20 per cent, of their earnings to 1 the fighting fund. That is the talk amongst those who ate studying the trouble. It was rumoured in the t mining district* on Monday that the Kaitangata Company intended . to lock out their men, but the whistle was sounded for work as usual. RELIEF FOR WAIHI MINERS TEODBLE AT A CITIZENS' MEETING. [BT THLEGEAJH— TRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 9th July. There was trouble from the very beginning of the citizens' meeting which was called this afternoon for the purpose of discussing what steps should be taken to place subscriptions for the assistance of members of the Waihi Enginedrivers and Winders' Union, oa the basi* of a proper fund. There were present some twenty-five persons, who, from their demeanour, were evidently adherents of the Federation of Labour. Proceedings became so disorderly that the matter under discussion was not dealt with, and the meeting broke up without any definite steps - being taken. Although the meeting was thus unsatisfactorily ended, it is evident that great public sympathy has been aroused in Auckland in the cause of the enginedriver, and funds are certain to be forthcoming.