MINERS' REQUEST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1932, Page 8

MINERS' REQUEST

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

GBEYMOUTH, This Day. Mr. Purdy, in reply to Colonel "HoK gate, states that the miners'' never asked the owners for" a national con* ference to discuss a. national agreement.* The dispute is of a national character, but the miners are simply asking for' a district unconditional conference >' to' discuss a district agreement. If the owners agree to this the miners ' will resume immediately under the •' old agreement and the dispute will'be set« tied.- . ' ' -> ,

Mr. 'Purdy is awaiting a reply- from Mr. Bishop. ' ■ >

DIRECT CONTACT ADVISED

Direct .contact between the ininera and the coal mine owners • c6neerning the dispute appears to have followed a further exchange of telegrams between the Minister,of Mines and'fWsecretary of the West Coast District' Miners 1 Council. . „ - < Replying to the Minister's telegram on Wednesday, the 'secretary of ' tha council said:— •>

1 "Your statement re West Coast e6nference substantially correct, but you ignore fact that present dispute is ot national character. If same condition* are i guaranteed to other districts th« dispute ceases to exist. Mr. McCaglaa wrote to Mr. Bishop on 6th'June; no reply received.", - To this the Minister, replied Tester* day:— .1 ;.„. , . .„ . , , . \ ,_ "Yqur telegram of. -yesterday .~_ieceived. I have'nothing to add to my former communications. Will you pleaw - address yourselves _ direct to parties concerned, namely, the coal owners. There is no bar to direct communication -betjveen the miners.' organisatiom and the New Zealand Coal-Mine Owners' Association,,and lam assured that immediately any proposal is made by the miners to the coal mine, owners it will receive prompt and careful eoasideration." -• ■ ■=.