THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 25 October 1912, Page 7

THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

FEDERATION'S PROBABLE

COURSE

AUCKLAND, Oct. 25. Messrs Webb and -Seniple, representing the executive of the Federation of Labor, arrived at Himtly this morning, and were- met by a crowd at the railway station.: Mr Semple, in a speech, admitted the extreme gravity of the situation generally, but Loped that an honorable settlement would be arrived at. In the meantime the Federation was being unjustly assailed by employers and workers, and an action for heavy damages for libel was being triie-n again-Sb the .Federation by those concerned in the efforts to form "scab* unions. The seriousness of the position was the Federation Executive's excuse for not meeting the men sooner, but he assured -them 'they had no fear of meeting them. He and Mr "Webb would meet the Miners' Union Executive in conference to-day, raid a report of their deliberations would be given to a meeting to-morrow. He felt sure the men would admit that an honest endeavor was being made to settle the trouble ! in an honorable way. J At the conclusion of his speech Mr Semple was cheered. It is reported from Huntly that- the probable result of the conference of the Federation of Labor Committee with the Miners' Union Executive is that the Taupiri Coal Company will be asked to reinstate the dismissed officials of the Miners' Union Executive and allow them to resume work on the footing previously existing; failing this, the. Federation will call out the enginedrivers and declare a state of strike at Huntly, at the same time calling out the coal miners throughout the do-

nun ion

A Star reporter, who is on the spot, expresses the opinion that less drastic proposals will be made.