MINERS’ FEDERATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1923, Page 3

MINERS’ FEDERATION.

DISSENTTOX EXISTfNG. WELLINGTON, April IT. Di-sention apju'ars to exist among the coal miners rut the West Coast regarding the Miners’ Federation and the Alliance of Labour, witit which the Federation is affiliated. Seine time ago a c* nferetice of miners’ lepresentative.s was held at; ReelTou, which decided that a new form of organisation was necessary, namely, that all the unions iu the respective districts should amalgamate through a Unit mil of Action. If carried into effect. tin's policy would result in the iornuilicii of district federations as against tic* present Dominion foitn of organisation. Vt the last meeting of the Blackhall Miner.'' Union, there was a large majority in favour of the ' heme proj.f sed at the Rgefloli ( 'onferent ;*. \Yb;*;i the Alliance „l 1...h0ur I'.eld it~ annual coniereuee in Wedington I ~t January, it Was decided to send Mr James R'.hei't- (s,.civiary.i. end Mr B. O'Rourke (.secretary of the N.Z. Miner-' Fedeiatioul to the West Coast in order lo deal with the objections raised by some unh.its to the Alliance, and i.i give the rank and file an opportunity of hearing the ease for unity in the .Millets' Federation- In accordance j v.ill l this decision Mr O'Rourke wrote ' to unions asking them to arrange meeting- for the Alliance representatives. The Bhr-khall Union however, wanted to have nothing to do with the matter. It- secretary replied, refusing to convene a meet ing. Mr O'Rourke then wrote a .strong Utter of protest against what he termed this ‘'dogmatic’ action, and stated he would visit the Const despite this oppnsit ion. Outside the West Coast, the -Miners’ Federation has its difficulties. These were referred to by Mr (t ll,mike when he visited Nightcaps recently. Apparently Mi O'Rourke was able to influence the Nightcap.- Union in lav,mr of Adhering to LHe* Federation, for the following resolution was carried: “That this Union lias complete eonlideme in tlie M liters’ Fcdera'toii is cmi't itut,,l at present and expresses the opinion that in the general interest ol the New Zealand Miners, all the miners’ unions should id om-e join ”!' well the Federation; and so pi ("out a united fronl in the mine-, v. nei