MINING DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10640, 13 July 1920, Page 4

MINING DISPUTE

POSITION GROWING SERIOUS “TRIAL OF STRENGTH THE ONLY WAY.” The situation in connection with tlic coal-mining dispute is still regarded a a serious. A number of letters have recently passed between tho secretaries of the Mine Owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation, and these arc followed up by a further reply to Mr W. Pryor, made by Mr J. Arbuckle, the federation secretary, yesterday. Mr Pryor last week asked Mr Arbuckle if the federation suggested that the settlement of the dispute should resolve itself into a trial of strength, say, by the adoption of the go-slow policy, and pointed out that such means could only bring about disastrous results to the rest of the community. Mr Arbuckle stated yesterday that since Mr Pryor suggested a trial of strength, and if that was the only way the minors were to secure their rights, then let it come, for the federation was determined to have them. STATEMENT BY MR ARBUCKLE.

Mr Arbuckle yesterday made the following statement: —“In making a statement in reply to Mr Pryor, I hardly need to again explain the points in dispute, as I did that in my statement which was made at tho time the National Disputes Committee failed to agree, Mr Pryor at that time stated that he did not care to go into tho matter then. Now that a deadlock has been reached, perhaps he will state the reasons for his companies refusing to carry out the agreement made at the conference, and explain Mow the companies increased the price of coal to meet the increase granted the miners, and then refused to give the miners one penny increase, which, is the case at Kiripaka, Mr Pryor is trying to make out a great case by stating that the owners have agreed to Mr P. Hally as chairman on our request,. but I want to say right here that the proposal submitted by the representatives of the miners on the National disputes Committee was never agreed to. Our proposal was that we would agree to accept the decision of a chairman if he was instructed to give his decision along the lines of the discussion, of the conference, and not on the literal interpretation of the clause granting the percentage increase, because it ia impossible for tho clause to cover all cases, there being many different changes and supplementary agreements, and new mines have started since the war. Therefore, there is no such thing aa a prewar basis for all mines. “THE ONLY WAY.”

“Now, seeing that the owners refused the offer made by the miners’ representatives on the National Disputes Committee, the matter was dropped as far as they were concerned, and was referred to the delegates sitting in conference representing all miners’ unions in the Dominion. When Sir Massey again offered to try and bring about a settlement of the disputes, wo suggested that a conference should meet, with Mr Massey as chairman, on Sat-' urday. This Mr Massey agreed to arrange, and the conference was to take place on Saturday last, at 2.30_ p.m., but Mr Pryor sought to put in the proviso that the chairman must bo in a position to give his decision on all matters not agreed upon. This proposal he made direct to us, and not to the Prime Minister. The Miners' Conference refused to agree. Mr Pryor then called the conference with Mr Massey off, and the present deadlock is the result: It would appear that the only way matters can now bp settled is by a trial of strength between the two organisations. The delegates representing the unions who have received the increase have no other alternative than to stick by the unions who have been deliberately robbed of the increase by the coal companies.”

PRIME MINISTER,

AA’ILLING TO BE ARBITRATOR

The Prime Minister, approached by a ‘'Times” representative yesterday with regard (to the coal crisis, stated that he -was still willing to give his services as chairman or arbitrator as soon as the parties came to an understanding as to what they desired. He had been willing to assist all along with the understanding' that if the. work of the session made it impossible for him to act ho would- appoint Mr Hally in his stead. 1 So far there had’ been nc. further proposal for a settlement. CONFERENCE OF NO USE. In the course of an editorial in the New Zealand Employers’ Federation Industrial Bulletin, reference is made to tho necessity for industrial peace, and in connection with the suggested conference, the article continues: The success of a national conference is ex-

tremely problematical. Some of the newspapers even admit that. It would be impossible to eliminate the Red element from such a conference; it would be childish to attempt to eli--minato it. Thanks to the apparent inability of Government to enforce tho authority of the. Arbitration Court, extreme Labour has become an accredited agent, and an accepted factor in industrial disputes; the law has been flouted, contumaciously flouted AVhy, then, should we consent to a proposition involving the contingent possibility of this ‘ revolutionary clement presenting itself as the accredited repreaento ti™ of Labour at a national industrial conference? Extreme Labour is openly and determidedlv committed to a rcrcrsal of the relative positions _ of Capital and Labour, to the creation of a proletariat dictatorship. No amount _of argument will change its views. "Why, therefore, sumnian a conference to ascertain what everybody already knows?