COAL MINING INDUSTRY
AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT. MINERS’ FEDERATION. WILL IGNORE ARBITRATION COURT. (Per United .Press Association.) WELLINGTON. July 11. An important development is likely to arise in the coal mining industry us tho result of a decision which has been reached by the Conference of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, which is at present sitting in Wellington. A few days ago it was reported*, that the coal owners had cited various minora’ unions to appear before the Arbitration Court, (he idea being to secure local agreements with the unions instead of entering into a fresh national agreement with the Miners' Federation. Practically all the coal miners’ unions in the dominion had been cited by the owners, and the matter has been discussed by delegates'to tho Federation’s Conference, whicli passed the following resolution unanimously;—“That this conference now decides that under no consideration whatever will the Arbitration Court bo recognised.” It is believed that if tho coal owners carry the matter into (.ho Arbitration Court the court will have to make awards in the absence of the representatives of the miners, who will most likely ignore the citation notices.
A pressman was informed that notwithstanding the attitude taken by the Miners’ Federal ion. the coal owners intended to take several disputes created with the local unions into the Arbitration Court for decision. The court oonld make awards in tlie absence of the minors’ representatives, and the men would have to work under them. Should they refuse to do so, and 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 a settlement of industrial disputes, and if the miners chose to flout the law or any awards of the court, (he responsibi'itv for any eopseouential developments would rest on the ; r own shoulders. <•
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 18295, 12 July 1921, Page 5
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315COAL MINING INDUSTRY Otago Daily Times, Issue 18295, 12 July 1921, Page 5
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