PUKEMIRO MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 17483, 14 October 1920, Page 2

PUKEMIRO MINERS

The dispute between the Pukemiro Company and the miners was discussed at a meeting of the union yesterday. Mr Hally, acting as chairman of tho National Disputes Committee, attended, and at his suggestion certain proposals were made to the company. A further meeting of the union will be held to-day, when it is anticipated that the owners* reply will have been received. . Interviewed by a ‘ Herald ’ representative, Mr Hally said that in his opinion the parties would, (be well advised to accept the proposal made by him. The only substantial point in dispute was the question of the engine-drivers, and this required most careful handling. When asked whether the miners as a matter of policy were endeavoring to humbug the mine-owners, inasmuch as they had failed to attend a meeting of the National Disputes Committee called for last week, Mr Hally said emphatically “No.” The men, he said, were anxious to meet the employers, hub a number of circumstances had arisen which made attendance at the meeting impossible at tho date fixed. No one could have been more disappointed than the Pukemiro miners when the negotiations were broken off. The proposal had been referred by the company to the Coal Mine-owners’ Association.