COAL DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 12

COAL DISPUTE

GOVERNMENT MEDIATOR UNDER-SECRETARY'S VISIT MEETINGS WITH COMPANIES PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT A series of private conferences was held in Auckland yesterday between representatives of the coalmining companies and the "Under-Secretary for .Mines, Mr.. A. H. Kinibell, who paid a brief visit to the city to gather facts concerning tlie coal "war" and the stoppage at lour Waikato mines, for the information of the Minister of Mines, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, and to seo whether he could bring the opposing factions together. Mr. Kinibell first conferred with representatives of the Renown, I'ukemiro and Wilton companies, who expressed willingness to meet and discuss the troubles of the industry with the Taupiri and Glen Afton companies, v hicli had declined tho Minister's invitation to be present. He then met representatives of the Taupiri and Glen Afton companies and the president of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association, Mr. W. 1). Holgate, but no finality was reached. Later, after a discussion with the Under-Secretary, Mr. Holgate announced that on behalf of the association ho was prepared to call a meeting of the companies on condition that the Jlenown company first withdraw the recent notice proposing a postponement of 20 per cent of its men's wages, and that at least two companies requisitioned for a meeting. The conferences were not open to the press, but an account of the proceedings was subsequently given by Mr. Kimbell. x Finality Not Reached At the first meeting, the chairman of the Ilenown Company, Mr. H. It. Mackenzie, read and handed over a prepared statement • expressing the views of his company regarding the causes of the present trouble and the probable effects if it were continued. He addressed the Under-Secretary in amplification of the statement. The chairman of the Wilton Company, Mr. H. Luke, submitted a comprehensive statement reviewing the whole position from the viewpoint of his company and supplemented it with other information.

On behalf of the Pukemiro Company, Mr. A.'Howey Walker stated ho was present as an act of courtesy to the Under-Secretary, and he had 110 statement to make.

Details in the statements were discussed, together with some further points raised by Mr. Kimbell, and the conference closed after the representatives present had signified their willingness to meet the other companies and discuss the whole position. Later Mr. Kimbell met Mr. Holgate, together with the Hon. E. W. Alison and Mr. C. M. Rich white, representing the Taupiri and Glen Afton Companies respectively, who expressed their views concerning the' causes of the dispute. At the end v of a full discussion no finality was reached in regard to means oi settlement. ' Rationalisation "Urged In a statement before he left for the Waikato, Mr. Kimbell said he _ had made a strong plea to both parties to meet and use every possible means to compose their differences, with tho object of placing the industry upon a better basis by an. orderly and welplanned effort to overcome the difficulties arising from a market which was contracting instead of expanding. He had pointed out that if the present conflict continued it would cause severe financial losses to the companies and might ultimately also cause misery and Buffering by throwing a number of miners out of employment. _ Mr. Kimbell remarked that his visit had been well worth while, because he had obtained statements upon the facts from both sides. Both had met him frankly and courteously. He would report to the Minister of Mines immediately, upon the whole position. Solution Suggested Mr. Kimbell subsequently visited Huntly. At a meeting with representatives of the Northern Miners' Union there last evening Mr. Kimbell said he had been authorised to state that, 011 the receipt of a request for a conference, signed by representatives of three other companies, Mr. Holgate would convene a meeting to-day, if it were possible, of representatives of all the companies. As a solution of the trouble, Mr. Kimbell advocated the pooling of the companies' output of coal and the centralisation of the distribution. The union representatives stated the men were willing to return to work if tho former working agreement were reverted to at the Kenown mine. They contended that the stoppage of work was not a strike, and the solution was in tho. hands of the companies concerned. Mr. Holgate's Stipulations Two conditions 011 which he was prepared to call a meeting of the Waikato mining companies to discuss the position of the industry were stated by Mr. Holgate last evening. He said that afternoon he had met Mr. Kimbell, who had suggested to him that he should call a meeting of the companies immediately to discuss tho question whether the itcnown company should lie asked to withdraw its notice to the miners proposing a postponement of 20 per cent of their wages. He had replied that he was not prepared to do so. Hp had informed Mr. Kimbell, however, that he was prepared to call a meeting on. two conditions. The first was that the Kenown company should withdraw tiie notice. The second was that at least two companies should send in written requisitions asking him to call the. meeting. Mr. Holgate added that as the Coal Mine Owners' Association had not been consulted before the notice was posted, be 1 elt the former status quo should be restored before the association took further action.

MINERS' NATIONAL COUNCIL Procedure for settlement [BY TKf.KCRAI'H PRESS ASSOCIATION'} CKEYMOUTH, Friday Advice has been received that the National Council of the United Mine Workers of Now Zealand, meeting today at Christchurch, decided that in the/ event of a satisfactory settlement ol the Waikato dispute not being obtained through the present Auckland negotiations, the matter will immediately be taken up by the council with the Coal Mine Owners' Association, anu that failing a settlement, the council will recommend a national stoppage in Support of the Northern Miners' Union.