MINES IDLE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 147, 7 June 1932, Page 7

MINES IDLE

MEN STOP WORK THE NEW AGREEMENT CERTAIN CLAUSES OBJECTED TO. HUNTLY RESOLUTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, J une 7. Five coal mines in the Waikato—the Pukemiro, Renown, McDonald, Glonafton, and Rotowaro—have ceased work. The new industrial agreement which came into force yesterday contains certain clauses to which the men object. At a mass meeting of miners at Huntly tho following resolution was carried:—. That we insist on an opportunity to discuss the objectionable clauses immediately or withdrawal of tho same in favour of the old agreement. POSITION ON THE WEST COAST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth, June 7. All mines on the West Coast are idle to-day. No reason was given to the companies except by union officials that the men had decided to stop work. As the secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association had promised the unions that work under the old agreement would continue till a conference between the parties was held, the only apparent reason that the miners are out is sympathy for the Huntly men. It was earlier stated by the West Coast executive of the Miners’ Union that all they desired was a conference or tho shelving of the new agreement. This was promised them. The mines here had been working under the old conditions, and the fact that the northern conference failed to come to an agreement does not affect the South Island miners. The State Mine, being affiliated to the West Coast Union, although not directly concerned in tho proposed new agreement, automatically becomes idle. The James Mine was to work to-day, but union officials went out and stopped the men going into the mine. The mines not affected include Blackball, employing 150 mon, and 23 cooperative mines and Crown and Harbour Board lands. DUNEDIN REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, June 7. Coal mine owners’ representatives here report that the Birchwood and Linton miners are idle, but that the Taratu and Kaitangata men are working. The latter are under Court awards. One owners’ representative stated that a conference had been promised to the West Coast District Miners’ Council, but it had been impossible to arrange this before the middle of June. In the meantime the West Coasters are working under the old conditions for the old wages. He stated that before the Otira tunnel was opened there were only about six collieries on the West Coast. Now there were 50, most of them outside the control of the District Miners’ Council. HISTORY OF DISPUTE REVIEWED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, June 7.

In a statement to-day the secretary of ths New Zealand Coal Miners’ Federation said it was absurd to suggest that 180 mines were affected. The number of mines operated by mining companies and concerned in the dispute was less than 20. Reviewing the history of the dispute, Mr. Bishop said that in April last the owners in two districts gave notice of their intention to introduce new working terms and conditions. The request of tho union for a conference was agreed to and this was to have been held in Auckland on May 6. On that day the Hikurangi miners went on strike as a protest against the dismissal of 55 men by tho Hikurangi Coy. When the conference opened tho owners stipulated tnat the strike must be called off as a condition of negotiation and they received from the miners’ delegates a promise that every effort would be made to persuade the men to go back to work. The conference continued for two days but on the second day it was announced that the strikers would not act upon the advice of their representatives and the conference was therefore adjourned. At the end of a week the strike was called off and work was resumed. The owners then fixed a date for resumption of the conference, but before the conference could be held Hikurangi was visited by a delegate from another district. A meeting of the local union was held and a second strike took place. Notwithstanding this, the conference between the owners and the miners was again opened in Auckland on May 24, but the owners stipulated that before they would discuss other working terms and conditions tho miners must agree that the owners should have the right to engage and discard men at their own discretion as might be necessary to meet tho cir-cumstr-'ces of the ease.

“This right, which is exercised by every other employer in Now Zealand, is denied to mineowners by the miners’ organisation,” said Mr. Bishop. “Tho present strike is upon that issue alone. When that is settled there will be no difficulty about a conference upon other working terms and conditions.”

PROTRACTED STRIKE NOT ANTICIPATED. Invercargill, June 7. All coal mines in the Ohai and Nightcaps district are idle as a result of the men striking in sympathy with the northern miners. The owners do not anticipate a protracted strike. STOCKS IN WELLINGTON. Wellington, Juno 7. Although the larger consumers of coal in Wellington appear to be well placed as far as supplies are concerned, the position in regard to household supplies is not so satisfactory and a prolonged stoppage of work at the mines might result in an embarrassing shortage. One result of tho strike has been to provide local dealers with an unusually busy day. Orders have been coming in steadily since the depots opened this

morning. The manager of one largo firm of coal and wood dealers told a reporter that he was afraid the supplies available for household purposes were fairly low. The position would have been more serious had it not been for the recent arrival of colliers from Newcastle. Another was due in about a week. The Wellington gas Co. has adequate supplier and the Pctone and Lower Hutt <as 'Lighting Board estimates that i' has supplies for two months. It is est uated that the supplies of household coal held by dealeis iu the Hutt Valley will not last more than three weeks. FEDERATION PRESIDENT’S COMMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 7. The president of the Coal Mine Owners’ Federation, Mr W. D. Hotgate, when asked to comment on the mine stoppage, said: “I have nothing to state other than that I consider the strike is on the question of the owners insisting upon the right of taking jn the men most suitable for the job au.l of dismissing men when they have no work for them.” The coal supplies in Auckland are considered ample to last a considerable time. ACTION THE RESULT OF BALLOT. Greymouth, June 7. The miners’ views were given by Mr W. Purdy, secretary of the West Coast Council, who states that the action of the men in striking on the Coast today is the result of a secret ballot taken some weeks ago, when the national organisation decided, by two votes to one, to take strike action and to resist, if necessary, the owners’ terms. The West Coast is a unit of the national organisation, and as a result of the breakdown of negotiations in the North Island, it affects the whole organisation. The Coast had previously decided to resist the owners’ terms and offer reciprocal assistance to the North Island miners, if necessary. The matter is a national, not a district, question. “This is the first time in my twentyfive years’ experience where either side has claimed the right to insist on acceptance of one clause as a subject of agreement,” said Mr Purdy. “Before the conference the miners were not seeking trouble, and they would be glad of any assistance, either political or otherwise, as a result of which the position might be bridged. The miners ask for an unconditional conference, when all clauses of the agreement may be discussed. lam not hopeless regarding the outlook, and perhaps wiser counsel will prevail. The miners are quite prepared to discuss all questions, and will keep the gate open for any outside assistance to help a conference to be arranged.” The State and Grey Valley miners arc meeting to-morrow.