COAL MINERS' DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18320, 10 August 1921, Page 7

COAL MINERS' DISPUTE

LETTER TO THE FEDERATION-

(Peb United Phess Association.) WELLINGTON, AhgSit 9. Correspondence continues to pass between the Mine Owners’ Association tod the Minor*’ Federation concerning the , Boasettlement of the mining dispute. Tlie latest letter from, Mr T. 0. Bikhop, icting secretary of the Mino Owners’ Association, to Mr John Arbuokle, of the federation, disclaims any desire to break -jp the Miners’ Federation, and adds: “The Miners' Federation hae been in existence for some 10 to 12 years, and the experiment of a national agreement had not been tried till a little more than a year ago. If the federation existed for all those years, and presumably fulfilled the purpose of the miners in the absence of a national agreement, whafdin lies the danger to the existence of the federation in reverting - to the system of .making local agreements with cool companies]; I am. convinced by past experience - that the only practical method of making arrangements is to make them locally at each nune or district, after a discussion fay the, representatives of those who will subsequently have to carry them out. The Opal; Mine Owners’ Association is not seeking,ftp interfere with the international affairs of yonr federation or the relationship between your organisation and the, several unions, nor .is it seeking to revert to any old conditions that were unsatisfactory. You say a meeting between the presidents and secretaries of our organisations will be fruitless, ee the nunera at the recent conference decided to stand or fall by a national agreement; but as yon have all along been acting under a misunderstanding of the owners* objects, it' is quite possible that such a meeting might not be fruitless, and;l there* fore repeat my invitation to your president and yourself, and trust you will accept it”