"DRASTIC ACTION”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10641, 14 July 1920, Page 5

"DRASTIC ACTION”

IN MINING DISPUTE MIXERS’ FEDERATION LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER. As a last resource before taking "drastic action" in tho coal mining dispute, the Miners’ Federation has, through its secretary, again communicated with tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) calling for a further conference between the parties. The following letter was drawn np at the instructions of the annual conference of the federation, which concluded its sittings on Monday, and was dispatched to tha Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) bv the secretary (Mr J. Arbncklp) yesterday;— "I have been instructed by tho Now Zealand Coal and Gold Miners’ Conference, now sitting in Wellington, to inform you that they make the following suggestions to yon as a means of settling tho present dispute in tho different mines:—

‘‘(1) That you call a conference of four from each side, with yourself ns chairman, and that the dispute bo settled along the lines followed on tbo drawing up of the national agreement. That the conference be arranged before Monday, July 19tb. "I am instructed to inform you that in the event of this method not being adopted that the whole of the miners and the federation will take drastic action to force same. “If your duties at the present are such that you cannot give the required time to this matter, we are prepared to accept Mr Hally as chairman.”