UNREST AMONG COAL MINERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3584, 21 November 1922, Page 9

UNREST AMONG COAL MINERS

FORMATION OF NEW FEDERATION. WELLINGTON, November 16 There appear to be some signs of unrest among the coal miners on the West Coast as a result of the wages reductions and Lhe price of explosives, and there appears to be a distinct move towards disintegrating tile New Zealand Miners’ Federation. Some months ago it transpired-that a proposal was being discussed lor the formation of a West- Coast Miners' Federation. The pro ject appears to have made headway, and it is now sought to establish district organisations throughout the clonynion with” the object of trying to force the coal mine owners to restore the system of national agreements, without reference to the Arbitration Court. Recently a conference of representatives from tile Miners’ 1 nions at Millerton, Deniiiston. Roa, Ngakawau, Runanga (State mine), and Blackball met at Keefton, and the following resolution was carried unanimously :—“That we recommend the formation of district organisations in Westland, Southland, and the North Island, and that the Council of Action be the controlling body ill each district, a national body, consisting of two representatives from each district, to be set up; these proposals to be submitted by the Miners’ Federation lo the rank and file for ratification.” Other resolutions carried were: —“That the secretary of each District Council inform the various companies that the miners demand an immediate reduction in the price of explosives to Is 4d per lb; this to include detonators, and that providing the proposed organisation comes into being the miners adopt the national minimum wage policy, ill order to force the coal owners into conference to discuss the revision of present awards.” In connection with this new move on the West Coast, Mr P. O'Rourke, secretary of the New Zealand. Miners’ Federation, addressed a circular to all unions condemning the idea of district organisations taking the place of tho dominion federation.