NEW UNION OPPOSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 14

NEW UNION OPPOSED.

GLEN AFTON COALMINERS. INVESTIGATION BY MINISTER. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, "Wednesday. A deputation from the United Mine Workers' Council interviewed the Minister of Labour, tho Hon. S. G. Smith, today, and objected to the registration of an industrial union at Glen Afton under the name of the Mac Donald Miners' Industrial Union of Workers. It was stated that where an industrial union already existed in the same locality and was connected with tho same industry and was ono to which members might conveniently bolong, tho formation of a new union was always opposed. The Glen Afton collieries were opening up a new section in the Mac Donald State mine area, and the coal would be hauled over a distance of two miles for screening ab the Glen Afton collieries screens. Tho two mines were both controlled by one company, and it was, therefore, considered there was no need for more than ono union. Moreover, the majority of the miners working at the Mac Donald mine were members of the Glen Afton Union. The bulk of tho work that was being carried out was purely navvy work and would be until the haulage track was completed. It was admitted that tho Glen Afton Union was not registered under the Arbitration Act, but it was a branch of the Northern Coal Mine Workers' Industrial Union, which was a registered body. The Minister replied that in the meantime tho question of registration would bo held over and that nothing would be done until he had an opportunity of investigating the whole of the circumstances of the case.