WAIHI MINERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1919, Page 8

WAIHI MINERS

•TROUBLE NOT YET SETTLED THE EIGHT MEN REFUSE TO JOIN THE UNION. (BI mMKAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WAIHI, This Day. The mission here of Mr Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, to adjust the differences existing between the Miners' union, has, in the main, not been successunion has, in the main, not been successful. Mr. Giles yesterday afternoon again interviewed the eight men with the object of inducing them to join, the men having at a former interview prom,ised to give the matter their earnest consideration, provided a mass meeting of the union was held, and a true statement of the position laid before it. The meeting was held, and the position made c.ear, and resulted in the president and secretary intimating that they would tender their resignations in consequence of having withheld from the previous union meeting the information that they and the rest of the delegates to the. conference with the mining companies" had agreed to exemption of the men . who were standing out. At yesterday's interview with the men, the question was in this way explained by Mr. Giles, but the men, with one exception, said that they had definitely decided to stand by their_ right to be exempted, and refused to join. Mr. Giles then interviewed the union executive, and placed the decision of the men before it. The executive informed Mr. Giles that the matter would now. rest with the Federation of Labour. Mr. Giles,expressed regret that after the union had conformed with the request of the men standing out, no effect had been given to their promise to earnestly consider the proposal to become members of the union.

The President and Secretary of the union have placed their resignations in the hands of the executive, and nominations for their successors will be received at a meeting of the union oa Friday. .■■ '

Mr. Giles returned to Auckland this morning.