THE MINERS

Southland Times, Issue 19295, 5 August 1921, Page 5

THE MINERS

LOCAL AGREEMENTS REFUSED “FIGHT TO THE LAST DITCH” (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 4. Mr J. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, in reply to the mine owners’ refusal to consider the renewal of the national agreement, states that the Federation will not consider local agreements. Miners will fight to the last ditch before giving up the national agreement which was only brought about after negotiations had cost the Government, miners and owners much money. They now have the owners refusing to continue a form of agreement under which the industry is more settled than previously. There can only be one reason for the owners’ present attitude, namely, separation of miners’ unions and the bursting up of the Federation so that the owners will be able to defeat the unions singly and restore the old conditions which were a disgrace. A preliminary conference such as proposed would be fruitless as the miners have already decided to stand or fall by the national agreement. Mr Arbuckle reiterates the request for another conference to consider the renewal of the national agreement. The miners will cease work if the Arbitration Court makes awards overriding the present national agreement. MINERS PREPARED TO STRIKE. DECLARATION BY MR ARBUCKLE. WELLINGTON, August 4. The Acting-Premier was approached regarding the declaration regarding the miners’ policy in opposition to local agreements made by Mr Arbuckle yesterday. “I cannot make any statement in regard to the general question,” said Sir Francis Bell. “I am only concerned so far as the Government mines might be affected. Outside them the matter rests between the miners and the mine owners.”

Mr Arbuckle, interviewed by a New Zealand Times reporter, said that no miners’ union would be represented at Conciliation Court proceedings, ignoring the proceedings. Should the Arbitration Court attempt to ma*;e an agreement or award, said Mr Arbuckle, over-riding the existing agreement, the miners were fully prepared to cease work and would be prepared to fight for an extension of the present national agreement with such alterations as might be deemed advisable. AN UGLY APPEARANCE. FACTORS AGAINST A STRIKE. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, August 4. The coal dispute is wearing an ugly appearance again, but there are reasons for believing that the Miners Federation will not be in a hurry to press matters to the breaking point. The Federation is refusing to recognise the proceedings under the Arbitration Act, but on the other hand it has virtually withdrawn its more extreme demands, and has reduced the dispute to the question of whether or «ot wages and conditions shall be governed by a national agreement. The miners want to continue the national agreement, and the mine-owners want district agreements.

Much will depend upon the result of the ballot now being taken for the election of a new secretary for the Federation. The extremists and the moderates among the miners are both represented by candidates. If a moderate candidate wins a settlement may not be difficult. A point that will weigh with the miners is the existence of very large stocks of coal in New Zealand. When last the miners’ unions went slow the Dominion was short of coal, and the pressure was felt by industries almost at once, but since then the Government, particularly through the Railway Department has bought very large quantities of coal, and it is receiving some 17,500 tons per month from Wales and Australia. The railways could run for many months with their accumulated coal. These supplies have been exceedingly expensive, but they are a factor that the Miners’ Federation is not likely to overlook. OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISPUTE. UNIONS IGNORE CONCILIATION COUNCIL. DUNEDIN, August 4.

The assessors for the miners’ unions in the Otago and Southland dispute in which the men were cited by the employers did not appear before the Conciliation Council this morning. The Commisioner (Mr Hagger) said he would advise the unions to appoint assessors and if they did not he would himself appoint them and if they did not turn up, the dispute would go before the Court as with no recommendation. Mr Bishop, acting for the Mine-Owners' Association, said he had been notified by the Federation that it would not recognise the Arbitration Court. The owners’ only reason for seeking individual agreements was that they found it impossible to make an arrangement in any other way, the conditions being different in various mines. The sitting was adjourned till August 23 for the Commissioner to act as he had indicated.