EFFECT OF ULTIMATUM.

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1920, Page 2

EFFECT OF ULTIMATUM.

GREAT UPHEAVAL POSSIBLE

Mr Massey's ultimatum to the men employed at the State ■coal mine-is - ! expected to have important results . quickly. It has become apparent I within recent montlhs that the con- ■•' timial stoppages at the coal mines . '! all over New Zealand were not due " , , merely .to local causes. One dispute -■. has succeeded another in such, fash- ~ - I ion as to indicate that the miners ' • were working on a concerted plan. This certainly has been.' the Government's neading of the situation. The latest stoppage at the State mine is attributed Iby the men to the refusal of .the Railways Department to. let certain miners .travel first class with . second class tickets. . The Government's reply is to the 'effect that the mine 4 will! be closed indeifiniitely if the men do not get iback to work under normal conditions within three days. Thiei matter will not end there, since it may be taken for granted that ,the coal mining companies will" follow the lead that the Government has given .them. The mtiners generally must work or istop altogether. Limitation of production by means i of the go-slow policy, the imitation . strike and casual stoppages are not to ibe .tolerated any longer. What, the, outcome may Ibe -will be known wiithin the next few days. If the < miners stop, one of the (biggest' in- ' dustrial upheavals in .the 'history of 1 New Zealand will ibe in sight.