MINING STOPPAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11661, 27 October 1923, Page 6

MINING STOPPAGE

MINISTER REVIEWS DISPUTE. APPEAL T 0» COMMON SENSE. Per Press Association WESTPORT, October 26. In the Town Hall this evening a deputation of citizens, introduced oy the Mayor, Mr Menzies, asked the Minisfor Mines, the Hon. G. «J. Anderson, to make a statement regarding the mining crisis. The Minister reviewed the proceedings leading un to and at the conference, and strongly advocated the taking of a secret ballot of the miners on the owners’ proposals. The Minister also spoke at length in justification of the Arbitration Court, which he contended done and was doing very great service to workers and employers alike, and he believed the scrapping of the Arbitration Court would be very unwise •in the interests of the country geherally. New Zealanders were chock-full of common sense, and he hoped that common sense would prevail in this _ crisis and speedily bring it to an amicable conclusion. A vote of thanks was accorded the Minister, by acclamation. * NO SECRET BALLOT MINERS’ DECISION. WESTPORT, October 26. The Millerton, Denniston, and Stockton miners at a masa meeting today, by open voting, endorsed the action of the delegates at the Recfton conference, and declined to take a secret ballot.