HIKURANGI MINERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15496, 1 January 1914, Page 8

HIKURANGI MINERS.

THE NEW UNION. , ' AGREEMENT * WITH r EMPLOYERS,'? l . >'.i. "• \* ' X- J ,; \v A conference between representatives of the Northern Coal 'Company, the Hikurangi Coal Company, and ' the ' newly-' fqrmed . anion of : North Auckland coal miners, which was' held at the office of the Conciliation \ Commissioner (Mr. V T. Harlo Giles) yesterday, resulted in a satisfactory agreement being entered into. Prior to the now union being formed the directors of each' company offered, the members of the old 1 union the ' opportunity of resuming work. This offer was refused, the union referring both companies to the United Federation of Labour. The now union was then' formed. It has now a considerable membership, which will bo increased before work is resumed on January 5, It is anticipated that the men who went on strike will not resort to militant, tactics, but in the event of their doing so, arrangemens have been made to afford ample protection ; for the. arbitration workers. ' „ \

The .representatives of the companies at ' th» conference were Mr. E. W. Alison, : CapUin <". Smith, and Mr, M. Casey. Messrs .' J. Whiteman, H. R. Collier and L. H. Girdori watched proceedings on behalf of ' the union. Mr. H. GilfiUan, secretary of the Hikurangi Coal Company, and Mr. R. A. Aickin, secretary of the" Northern Company, were in attendance, and also the mine managers c for both : companies. A'i the close of the proceedings.Mr. Alisou- moved a, hearty vote of, thanks to the fjommiiS3ioner, and expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the delegates of the union bad conducted the case. They were evidently actuated by a desire to advance the welfare- of ; the workers whom they represented, ; and had at the same time given a fair deal to the employers, whose interests were identical with theirs. ' <■'■;>>>; , ;, The motion was seconded. by Mr. J. W. Whitman, who acknowledged, on behai'f of the union, the fair way in which the employers had met them, assured the employers that his union would do all in its power to faithfully observe the agreement into which they had. entered. The terms and conditions of the new agreement are on similar lines to these of the one under which the men had been working preyioply. The old agreement was not registered under the Arbitration Act, -and ib expired about three months ago, Certain concessions are allowed by the new agreement, but truckers and carpenters are especially benefited as regards increase of wages.

POSITION Iff WAITABA. SHORTAGE OF. SUPPLIES. [by TELEGRAPH,—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wanganoi, Wednesday. ' The Tongariro is now in the Waitara Roadstead, taking in wool and other pre* duce. She is not likely to get sway much within a week. The news tJ.at the Clay, more is to resume her runn'ag in about a fortnight hence is welconvd by Waitara traders. A good deal of correspondence took place between the Ti litara Chamber of Commerce and Aucklanc, and it is hoped in the district that the weekly service will be resumed permanently. , ' The result of the late strike is being felt very severely in the Waitara district. Cement for building purposes is not to be obtained, and in several instances work has had to be discontinued. Artificial manures are unprocurable, and this is, to be 'deplored, as superphosphate is required for immediate use for drilling with turnip