THE MINING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 7

THE MINING INDUSTRY

STRIKE AT HIEURANGI.

OWNERS’ ATTITUDE RESENTED,

(From Oue Own Correspondent^ / ' WELLINGTON. May 28. A West Coast Labour paper recently expressed the hope that the New Zealand Alliance of Labour would see to it that no coal leaves New Zealand to defeat the aims of the miners who are fighting the owners in New South Wales. The secretary of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, however, states that the New South Wales miners have not yet asked the New Zealand miners to oome to their assistance in any way, and the Alliance of Labour has not discussed the matter. It is not yet known whether the Millerton or Blackball miners will be represented at the dominion conference which is ,to bo held on July 4-. regard to the Hikurangi miners’ strike IvTr O’Rourke, of the Miners’ Federation states that there are all the elements of serious trouble in the attitude of the owners, and the miners wall not take it lying down. THE HIKURANGI TROUBLE. IPSB United Press Association, i WELLINGTON, May 23. The strike of miners at Hikurangi has not been settled. It is probable that the Miners’ Federation will bo interesting itself in the trouble unless steps are taken to bring it to a satisfactory ending. It is alleged on the men’s behalf that there has been victimisation in connection with notices given to several employees at Foot and Dool’s mine, and at the end of last week all of the miners at Hikurangi, comprising over ICO men, came out in sympathy with other members of the local union involved in the trouble. The Northern District Council of the Miners’ Federation has recommended the Hikurangi strikers to return to work and declare Foot and Dool’s mine black,” but no information has so far been received here as to whether this advice has been acted upon. Mr P. O’Rourke, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, stated that his organisation would exert'every effort to secure justice to the men concerned. ' TE PUKE DISPUTE SETTLED. 'Pei United Press Association ' TAURANGA, May 28. Miners and other employees at Muir’s Gold Reefs (Ltd.), Te Puke, .ceased work on May 12 as a result of a proposed reduction in wages by the company. At a conference to-day between a representative of the Te Puke Miners’ Union and the company a settlement of , the dispute was reached, and work will be resumed immediately. The two main conditions on which the agreement is based are: (1) On the resumption of work the company will commence gto pay, and continue to pay until August 31 next, the rates of wages which were in operation on the 11th inst.. and it is agreed that, as early as possible the question of rates of wages to be paid after August 31 shall be submitted to the Conciliation Council. Failing a settlement being arrived at by the Conciliation Council, the matter shall be submitted to the Arbitration Court. (2) All contracts existing between the members of the union and the company from May 12, 1923, having become Forfeited, the union undertakes to grant full freedom to all its members to tender or negotiate' for any contract with the company without any restriction regarding prices.