WAIKATO MINERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 12

WAIKATO MINERS

STRIKE THREAT RUMOUR

DENIAL BY THE MEN MEETING HELD AT HUNTLY [from oca own courtkshindknt] IIUNTLY. Saturday .A meeting of over 300 miners, representing the four mines in the district, was held in the Lyceum Theatre, lluntly, this morning. Mr. R, L. Roberts, president of the Northern Miners' Union, presided, and the secretary, Mr. \\ . Davison, and other officials of the union were present.

During a discussion lasting about three hours, a full inquiry was requested by the men into a rumour which had been circulated that a telegram signed bv Mr. W. Davison, secretary of the union, had been forwarded to the Minister of Labour, at Wellington, threatening to call a strike of miners at the Waikato mines if the Government coal order was not rationed among all the mines, including Renown Collieries. As a result of information received by the various coal companies with reference to the telegram, the managers at the mines had approached the men, who denied all knowledge of it. Now they wanted to know who was responsible for sending it. In replying to the men at to-day's meeting, .Mi-. Davison emphatically denied that lie had sent the telegram. The members of the executive made a similar denial.

The meeting has instructed the union to send telegrams to the Minister of Labour, the Labour Party and the Prime Minister to the effect that the delegates wlto visited Wellington to discuss with the Government tho rationing of coal orders did not officially represent the miners in tho Waikato. Tho men decided that they did not recognise any business which tho delegates transacted in Wellington, and so far as the report of the strike on Monday is concerned they know nothing about it.

When interviewed after the meeting to-day, Mr. Roberts said a full statement would be submitted in a few days. The mines would bo working as usual on Monday.