CONFERENCE TOED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17955, 3 December 1921, Page 8

CONFERENCE TOED.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. MR. MASSEY AS MEDIATOR. I NO TIME FOR A STRIKE. ' [by teleqrafh.— special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Questions were asked in the House of Representatives to-day regarding the ' trouble which has broken out in some of > the coalmines of New Zealand. i Mr.. A. Hamilton (Wallace) wished to | know from the Minister for Labour, Hon. [ G. J. Anderson, what was thought to be the cause of the trouble. Mr. Anderson said he understood the outbreak was due to t!ie fact that the ; Court had given an award in the absence of the miners' representatives. The miners had themselves to blame for that. They had been summoned, and had not accepted ' the summons. He understood that the Kaitangata mine was working, and he was told that at the State mine the men had seen fit to go out. If the miners were foolish enough to act in that way he was very sorry. He had thought they were men of a different kind, for this was no time to be going on strike. I The Leader of tho Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked whether the Prime Minister would call a conference of the parties, in the hope that a settlement would be reached. Mr. Massey, he said, had been successful in settling the recent " wool strike." Mr. Massey replied that he was always ready to act as a conciliator if he possibly could. He did not know what the grievance was in this case, un'ess it was that the miners were not satisfied with the recent decision of the Court. The attitude of the miners was much to be regretted. This was not the time for strikes. Strikes ought to be avoided, and all wctiont, of the community, including legislators, should bo united in an endeavour to get the country out of its present financial troubles. He would be glad to inquire into the difficulty, but he would not promise that he would be able to do anything at the present time.