ULTIMATUM ISSUED

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 5

ULTIMATUM ISSUED

NORTHERN MINERS MAY STRIKE. DISSATISFACTION OVKk DISMISSALS. P?r Press Association. WHANGAREI, February 26. Arising from the dissent from the action of the Hikurangi Coal Company and Wilson’s Collieries at Hikurangi, regarding the putting off of miners, a mass stop-work meeting took place yesterday afternoon. It was averred that the inability of the'companies to find employment was either due to the Government’s action in sanctioning the imports, or to other than the contention that the shortage of orders for supply was the reason. It was unanimously decided to issue an ultimatum to the employers that what work was available bo shared: otherwise there would he no appearance of members of the union at work on Monday. Mr R. E. Hornblow (Liberal candidate for the Bay of Islands) has contented to act in an intermediary capacity, and attended the conferences of both the union and the management; chile ho was subsequently in touch vith the directors, who met at Auckand in the afternoon. It is evident that the men are not :onvinced that the dismissals are due to a shortage of orders for coal, and that if the ultimatumHs ignored a big crisis is imminent, tne support elsewhere being wholehearted. Wilson’s Collieries employees did not participate in yesterday’s meeting, but they are likely to be the first amongst those embroiled. The Federal complaint is that the Government has imported the coal and is thereby responsible for the professed shortage of orders, but the miners are quite prepared to work even half time to keep their mates in employment. It is generally considered that if the men go on strike on Monday it will have a far-reaching effect.