TO THE LAST DITCH

Evening Star, Issue 17731, 4 August 1921, Page 7

TO THE LAST DITCH

THE MINERS’ ULTIMATUM. WILL CEASE WORK IE NATIONAL AGREEMENT OVERRIDDEN. [Peu United Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON, August 4. Mr Arbucklc, secretary of the Minors’ Federation, in reply to the mine-owners’ refusal to consider a renewal of the national agreement, states that the federation will not consider local agreements. Tire miners will' fight to the last ditch before giving up their national agreement, which' was only brought about after negotiations that cost the Government, tho miners, and the owners much money. He said : “ There can only be one reason for refusing to continue a form of agreement under which the industry has been more settled than previously—haraoly, tho separation of the miners’ unions and the.bursting up of tho federation so that tho owners will be able to defeat the unions singly and revert to the old conditions, which were a disgrace. A preliminary conference such as is proposed would bo fruitless, ns tho miners have already decided to stand or fall by the national agreement.”

Mr Arbuckle reiterated his request for another conference to consider tho renewal of the national agreement. The miners wiH f cease work (ho averred) if the Arbitration Court makes awards overriding the present national agreement.