DELAYING BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 66, 18 March 1924, Page 8

DELAYING BUSINESS

IN MINERS' NEGOTIATIONS

NORTH ISLAND COUNCIL SEEKS'

CONFERENCE.

Negotiations have been in train for some weeks past between the New Zealiiiid Miners' Federation and the New Zealand' Coalmine Owners' Association in regard to a request from the miners that the rates of pay and altered conditions gained l,y the West Coast miners as. a result of the recent West Coast trouble should be conceded to the miners in the other districts

The Coalmine Owners' Association lias declined to grant the increases asked, but has intimated that it is quite prepared to consider the making of new awards in the districts other than the West Coast, provided that the Miners' I'ederation agrees to have this done in accordance with constitutional methods. ihe secretary o£ ttfe Coalmine Owners' Association (Mr. T. 0. Bishop) has received while negotiations have been in progress the following communication li-om the secretary of the North Island Miriiers' District Council:— _" I have been instructed by my council to make a request to you for.a conterence as between representatives of the Coal Owners' Association and representatives of the North Island District Council, the said conference to discuss revision of wages and conditions of work, ior the miners of the North Island." hi forwarding this on to the secretary of the Coal Miners' Federation (Mr. P. U Rourke), Mr. Bishop asks whether he is to take the letter as an indication that the miners in the North Island are repudiating Mr. O'Rourke's right to act on their behalf.

Mr. 0 Rourke has sent a circular to the unions affiliated with the Miners' federation, in which. ho sets out the facts outlined above, and quoting Mr. .Bishop s letter. " Comment on the prinple displayed by this letter at this particular junction," he states, " is unnecessary as far as the intelligent members of the New Zealand Miners' Federation are concerned, but that it will need some careful investigation by the miners in the northern district who are out for national unity goes without saying. It will be quite apparent to the dullest intellect that tactics such as these give the coal owners the opportunity they are seeking at the present time to delay business. There is nothing in the world that creates a better opportunity for delay m any negotiation than for two parties to open discussions at the same time. If a,mistake has been made, let the persons responsible immediately explain."