THE COAL DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 17876, 4 September 1918, Page 5

THE COAL DISPUTE

CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 3. The conference between the miners and the mine-owners will be held at Wellington on Tuesday next. MR SEMPLE INTERVIEWED. EXECUTIVE’S ACTION JUSTIFIED. GREYMOUTH, September 2. In an interview with a Star reporter this afternoon, Mr Semple said that on account of the rumours prevalent regarding the attitude taken up by the executive and the officials of the Miners’ Federation in regard to the dispute, he wished to say that the criticism was exceedingly unfair, and there was a misunderstanding regarding the finding of the recent congress. The executive right through had loyally obeyed the instructions of the congress, and officials had obeyed the orders given them by the executive. In making this statement he would defy contradiction. Right through the executive had. endeavoured to bring about a conference with the coal owners, and this was the reason why, after the ballot had been taken, the seven days’ grace had been given to the Government and the coal owners. The present negotiations were the result of the executive’s efforts, and they hoped that the negotiations would lead to a settlement of the dispute, not only in the interests of the miners, but also of the general public, who required some consideration. It had been freely stated that the executive was not representative of the unions, and that the union that had ceased work would refuse to accept the executive’s advice to return to work. He was pleased to say that such was not the case. la all cases the unions had accepted the executive’s advice, and were returning to work, showing that the Federation was really representative of the miners and of the unions to which they belonged. Mr Semple concluded by paying a tribute to the manner in which the Minister of Mines had endeavoured to bring about a settlement. He had, he said, acted exceedingly fairly in the dispute so far, and the miners and the general public should bo deeply grateful to him for the way in which he had worked to prevent a dislocation of the industry. Messrs Winnard and Semple will return to Wellington to-morrow. The other officials of the executive of the Federation are already there, awaiting the return of Messrs Winnard and Semple, who have been detained owing to trouble on the West Coast. The conference with the owners will take place at an early date, and it is hoped that an amicable settlement will be arrived at. The unions have resumed work under the executive’s instructions.