MILLERTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1938, Page 12

MILLERTON NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.] The mine continues to work full time. 1 Mr T. Jackson has returned after - a holiday in Christchurch. ’

Messrs J. and G. Orman have returned after visiting Christchurch. Mr and Mrs A. Stewart, who have had a holiday in Christchurch, have returned home. Mr E. Moreton has also been visiting Christchurch, and has returned home. Mrs J. McKinlay, of Millerton, is an inmate of the Westport Hospital at present. Mr W. Closs has arrived from Greymouth, and intends staying on the Hill for the present. Mr G. Williams, of Westport, is spending a holiday on the Hill with Mr and Mrs T. Burchfield. Ranger Rugby seniors played Old Boy seniors, of Westport, the visitors winning by thirteen points to five. The weather was line, with a slight wind blowing. Nevertheless, it was an ideal day for the first game of the season. Rangers were without the services of a number of their players, but they certainly made a good showing against such strong opponents as Old Boys. D. Strachan opened the score for Old Boys with a penalty goal, and W. Weenink added a try, which was converted by Strachan, Old Boys leading by 8 points to nil at halftime. In the second spell Rangers played much better, though they had a strong wind against them. 0. McDonald scored a try for the visitors, and Strachan again converted, making the visitors 13 to nil. The home side started a very effective forward movement, and carried the ball on to the visitors' goal line, and from a line out T. Williams went down to score. Chippendale converted, making the final score 13 points to 5. Mr Anderson, of Westport, had control of the game. Thistle Soccer team played Bachelors, of Denniston, when the visitors were defeated by seven goals to one. Mr C. Orman had control of the game. A special meeting of the Miners Union was held in Peggie’s Hall on April 24. Mr W. Clarke, the chairman, stated that the meeting was for the purpose of receiving a report from Mr T. Muir (district delegate to the National Council), who attended the recent wages agreement conference in Wellington between the United Mine Workers' representatives and representatives of the coal-mine owners; also a further report on the Federation of Labour conference. The delegate touched on the Federation conference. which a very large number of delegates attended from every part of New Zealand, and it certainly was one of the most important conferI cnees held, and if carried along, with '.rank and file leadership, would cer"tainly become the strongest industrial organisation set up in New Zealand. Hon. P. C. Webb (Minister of Mines) .opened the meeting, and was accordled an enthusiastic reception. Mr A. | McLagan was re-elected president un- | opposed, and Mr Cornwell was reelected secretary unopposed; while Mr J. Roberts and Mr Walsh were appointed to the Executive Committee. Hons. P. Fraser, Mason and Jones were also present. The capitation fees were to remain as at present. A further appeal was to be recommended in support of the Labour Party Campaign Fund and the Spanish Medical Aid to all organisations. Other important issues were to be gone into immediately. and finalised as soon as possible. This commenced the second year of the Federation, .and no doubt up to the present it had played a .very important part on behalf of the industrial workers. It was necessary that the agrarian workers be organised just as the industrial workers were, and they must be drawn into the Federation. Once this was accomplished, then all could look for a further betterment of conditions. Let them take notice of what happened in other European countries, and let the workers in New Zealand profit by those mistakes. Giving a report on the national agreement conference, Mr Muir statI cd .the agreement remained nearly the I same as the previous one, with a few I changes. One of the most important concessions gained was tnat of annual holidays for all mine workers on full pay. Of course there were certain provisions allowing each worker a certain number of days off yearly, and they still would be entitled to the annual holidays. It was a recommendation that support should be urgently given to the Labour Fund and the Spanish Aid Fund. The delegate’s report was received, and the National Mine Workers’ recommendation was accepted. A number of local disputes were brought up for discussion, the most important being that of the company officials giving workers gumboots to wear in wet places so as to avoid paying wet time. The chairman took a firm stand on this, and stated that those workers should know their agreement, and if they dm not, they had only to ask the secretary for the necessary information. What was the use of struggling and fighting tor those conditions if workers were prepared to let them go? He hoped he would never have to touch on another case such as this again. The Spanish Aid appeal was then brought up, and Mr R. Jack (secretary) stated the Union would have the Labour Party Campaign Fund of £5O paid up in another two pays. Then, at a further meeting, they could decide on a levy on behalf of Republican Spain. This was put to the meeting and carried. Mr Muir stated that Mr McLagan had given a report on his trip to Australia as the Mine Workers’ delegate, which was received as very satisfactory.