MINERS’ DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18322, 12 August 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ DISPUTE

MR ARBUCKLE’S LETTER, (P*a United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 11. In the course of a letter forwarded to the acting secretary of the Coal Mineowners’ Association, Mr John Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, repeats the request for a conference between representatives of the owners and the federation for the purpose of making a new national agreement to govern the conditions of work in the coal mining industry. On behalf of the federation, Mr Arbuckle reiterates that miners are averse to entering into local agreements as suggested by the award. Mr Arbuckle s letter concludes: “You again suggest a meeting between your president and yourself, along with the president and secretary of our organisation, and that it is purely for the purpose of clearing away any misunderstandings as far as local agreements are concerned. If you are prepared to meet us to consider the reasons why a national agreement should not remain in force, then w© will be on!- too pleased to meet you on these grounds, but the miners of this country fully understand their position and the meaning of sectional agreements. therefore there is no misunderstanding as far ns we are concerned, and I must reiterate my former statements that such a meeting as suggested by you would be fruitless, and would serve no good purpose. I again repent the request for a conference to_ sett’e the present unrest in the mining industry by entering into a national agreement for a further term.” The application by the coal mine-owners for a local agreement relating to mines in the Westland district has_ been set down for hearing by the Council of Conciliation at Reefton on August 16. Mr W. Newton, Conciliation Commissioner, left Wellington to-night to preside over the meeting.