THE NORTHERN MINERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17257, 5 September 1919, Page 6

THE NORTHERN MINERS

MEN DISCUSS POSITION. NO DECISION REACHED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.! WHANGAKEI, Thursday. The result of the meeting of miners at Hikurangi on Tuesday night, and at Kiripaka last night, has not been made known. The meetings were addressed by Mr. J. O'Brien, representative of the northern district on the Miners' Federation Executive. Interviewed at Hikurangi this morning. Mr. O'Brien said that both meetings discussed the terms of settlement proposed by the coal owners, and a strong current of feeling ran in the direction of supporting their comrades of the South Island. The meetings might be regarded as adjourned, and discussion would be resumed in a few days. For this reason no announcement could be made. It was his oninion, however, that the Hikurangi and KiriDaka miners might any day come into line on the " go slow " policy, which possibly might be commenced this week. The men, he stated, had advanced three reasons why the terms of settlement pronosed by the owners were not acceptable. First that nine unions, four in the North Island and five in the South, were barred from the benefice offered: secondly, the offers were made on pre-war rates of wages, and the miners -wanted the terms to be reckoned on the gross earnings; thirdlv. there was no guarantee of a minimum wage. Mr. O'Brien said that, however grave matters looked, the miners were still open to negotiations. There were signs of a possible understanding beinir reached by the movement in that direction being organised in Wellington.