BLACKBALL DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17109, 14 March 1919, Page 4

BLACKBALL DISPUTE.

SETTLEMENT EFFECTED, M MINERS ADMIT MISTAKE, *$ /■ j REINSTATEMENT ARRANGED, [BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION".] WELLINGTON, Thanh,.' Tho Blackball mine dispute was respon., c ible for a conference between the members of the executive of the Coal Mineowners' Association and the Miners' Federation, which was held to-day at th> suggestion of the Minister for Mines. The conference was attended by Sir George Clifford and Messrs. W. Reece, T § Weston, W. A. Flavell, and Arnaud M c [ Kellar, representing She Mineowners' Ag. sociation. and Messrs. O'Rourke, O'Brien. Williams, Hallerstone, and Glover repre. tenting the Miners' Federation. The Minister opened the conference, amj said the directors of the Blackball Company had agreed to his suggestion that the matter of the reinstatement of the recently-dismissed men should be referred to the fcwo executives for consideration He expressed the hope that an amicable settlement would result. A settlement was arrived at on the following terms:—"ln view of its tejjconceded by the New Zealand Miners* federation that the action of the men which caused their dismissal at Blackball was a mistake on their part in regard to the agreemeils existing, and therefore th 6 dismissal did not amount in any sense to victimisation—as has been publicly alleged, —tho Blackball Company agree/ to rein. state the dismissed miners as from Moj. day next,"