PERMANENT SETTLEMENT WANTED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 30

PERMANENT SETTLEMENT WANTED.

THE OWNERS' DIFFICULTY. REEFTON, January 10. On receipt of information that the Government would endorse the undertaking of mining risks by the Insurance Department, and after a conference with the miners' committee, the employing companies wrote to the secretary of the Miners' Union at Reafton that the matter was still under consideration by the mineowners. Their difficulty was that the proposal to insure till Parliament met was merely a palliative, and before accepting it the mine-owners wanted to know what legislative change the Government proposed to make with the object of settling the difficulty. The , mine-owners " did not wish to effect merely a temporary settlement and reopen the whole question in six months, hence they were in communication with the Government. The mine-owners accordingly despatched a wire asking for an> outline of the pro- " posed legislation dealing witk'the act as a guide to go on. No reply has yet been received. Last night over 300 miners assembled in the Princess Theatre, and were addressed by Mr Sample, of Greymouth, and other members of the Miners' Federation. The position of affairs was placed befor* them, and it was agreed to leave tho management of affairs in the hands of the Miners' Federation. Votes of thanks were accorded the federation officers, Mr P. J. O' Regan and Dr Conlon. The disappointment in town is extreme at the failure of the negotiations. Many of the workers recommend the sweeping away of the act which is the cause of the trouble. Many others, on the other hand, hold that the act is necessary in order to protect the victims of miners' complaint. The employers hold that they are willing to resume work and employ men at once, but they say it would be no use to reopen the question six months hence. The question to them is that the act presses too heavily on the industry, and that it will cripple every mining venture^ which is at all fluctuating. Consumption, according to Dr Gill's report, is shown to be very prevalent at Reefton among both sexes. Consumption |in miners is liable to turn to pneumoconiosis, and without a medical esamina-i tion there is no chance of detecting this. There is no guarantee that the act as amended will meet the situation, especially as strong exception in labour circles is taken to clause 17. . So far , the employers, are- determined! that no' work will take place to-morrow 1 as was hoped. Only one mme — the Golden Fleece — will be working. Owing to its tributors falling in with the Government Insurance Department, the risk will be covered by the Government. At last nigiht's meeting they were allowed to engage men. The men have now been a fortnight last Thursday without work. •