THE MINING DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 5

THE MINING DISPUTE

MINERS’ SIGNIFICANT MOVE ARBITRATION COURT NOT TO BE RECOGNISED. THE OWNERS AND CITATION. The following resolution has been unanimously passed by tho annual conference of the Miners’ Federation, nowsitting in Wellington:— ‘That this conference now decides that, under no consideration whatever, will the Arbitration Court be recognised.” This decision is of considerable interest, as tho second move in the dispute between the federation and the mine-owners since the failure of the parties ‘some weeks ago to reach a settlement upon the miners’ claims for a new agreement. It was reported a fortnight ago that the coal-mine owners in the Auckland district had cited the unions in their district under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, with the object of securing local agreements as preferable to a national agreement, as formerly. Since then practically all the unions in tho Dominion have been similarly served ; conciliation sittings have been fixed for July 20th at Reefton, and for Au'grist 4*h at Dunedin; no fixtures have yet been arranged for Christchurch and Auckland., In the light of the above resolution the unions will ignore the conciliation proceedings; it will then be open to the employers to take the case to the Arbitration • Court and get an award framed in default of the appearance of the other parties. COAL OWNERS’ ATTITUDE. DISPUTES TO ARBITRATION COURT. In this connection it is stated that notwithstanding the attitude taken us by the Miners’ Federation, the coalowners intended tot take the several disputes created with the local unions into the Arbitration Court for decision. The court could make awards in the absence of the miners’ representative®, and the men would have to work under them. Should they refuse to do so, nnd the unions cancelled their registration under the Arbitration Act, the awards of the court would continue to operate in the various districts concerned. The owners had taken advantage of the legal machinery available for the settlement of industrial disputes, and, if the miners chose to flout the law, or any awards of the court, the responsibility for any nonsequential developments would rest on their own shoulders.