THE MINING DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9139, 22 August 1888, Page 5

THE MINING DISPUTE.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR SETTLE-

MENT.

FRESH. PROPOSALS. [PRESS association.]

Sydney, August 21. This colliery proprietors have received a conciliatory deputation from citizens of Newcastle, and the coal-masters have agreed to open negotiations with the men if the latter will withdraw the resolutions of which they gave notice. The deputation hope to be able to induce the men to accept the condition imposed by the masters, and the latter have handed to the deputation sealed proposals for an agreement which are not to be opened till the men comply with the stipulation of the masters.

MASTERS' VIEW OF THE SITUATION.

"There wi)' be no strike" was the remark made by several colliery proprietors who were waited upon by a representative of the Sydney Morning Herald. The prevailing impression was that the men see that, by taking the extreme course, they have little to gain and a great deal to lose. The masters have also moderated. When first brought face to face with' the notice from the men, there were those who warmly expressed the desire that the strike might proceed, and that the men might pay for their folly. But the tone has since changed. The masters, for the most part, say that they do not intend to take any initiatory action to bring the trouble to an end ; but if approached in a fair and frank manner, they will be prepared to give full consideration to the men. " The men will have to withdraw their notice," said one gentleman, before anything can be done. It is not to be expected that the masters will attempt to negotiate with such a threat flouting them. The men have taken up the position of attack, and it is for them to declare a truce." That opinion may be said to represent the teeling of the majority of the masters. There is an opinion that it would be highly dangerous to the prospects of peace, if the recognised leaders of the miners were allowed to attempt the settlement of the dispute on behalf of the men. It is said that they have by their conduct raised a feeling which will for many a day live in the recollection of the masters. The masters entertain the belief that the whole of the complications of the past have been engendered by the indiscreet action of those whose duty it is to guide and advise, but who in reality are ever attempting to inflame the men against the masters. Matters, it is thought, are now ripe for a satisfactory settlement of the difficulty, but the utmost caution will have to be observed in conducting the negotiations, or a rupture may follow. The masters say that they have to look with a suspicious eye upon everything that is done in such a struggle as this. If the exact bearing of every point in the settlement i.s not fully comprehended, they have to suffer for their want of caution, or as one mining official put it, " Such lias been the advance in this democratic age, that the men are to be allowed, in the name of 'miners' rights,' to ride roughshod over us, while we, even if we suggest that matters might be more fairly balanced, are accused of tyranny." If out of the present dispute there should come an agreement, the masters are determined that it shall be " defined beyond dispute," so that each party shall know what are the relations existing between them ; and, as the official last alluded to said, "so that we can see how far the miners'rights drive into the masters' wrongs." Mr. G. R. Dibbs, on being asked for his opinion upon the situation, said :—"I do not believe there will be a strike. My opinion is that common sense and reason, justice, and a proper spirit of conciliation, ill yet prevail between the masters and the men, and tiie strike will be averted. I am further of opinion that had Mr. Gregson adopted a more conciliatory tone to the men than he did at the interview the threat of a strike would have passed over. In a matter of this kind it is no use cither the masters or the men adopting a high-handed tone toward one another. Their interests are identical, therefore conciliation should and must prevail. lam satisfied from inquiries which I have made in Victoria anil elsewhere that if a strike did take place it would bo the means of developing the sources of supply which exist in Tasmania, New Zealand, and Queensland, and it would strike Newcastle with disaster, as well as both the masters and miners. If a strike took place there is no doubt of this, that the men would not bo permitted to return to work except upon a new order of things, which would be to the disadvantage of the men. A strike would be a great disaster, not only in the loss it would entail upon the proprietors, but it would throw Newcastle 10 years astern of the time. The men, I believe, are fully aware of this. They see the grave position which faces them, and I believe that before the time for the strike arrives peace and harmony will prevail."