STRIKE IN MINES

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 5

STRIKE IN MINES

ALL WAGE WORKERS IDLE objection to new terms the right to dismiss men claim made by owners miners state their case A general strike of New Zealand coal miners commenced at midnight on Monday, and yesterday all mines except those working on the co-operative or contract system were idle. Efforts may be made, however, to indtice all miners to cease work. The strike was favoured by - a two-to-one majority in a Domiriion-wide ballot of unions, the object being to resist the imposition of the coal-owncrs’ new terms. A Hamilton Press Association message states that five coal mines in Waikato—the Pukemiro, Renown, Mc- " Donald, Glen Afton and Roiowaro mines —ceased work yesterday. The new industrial agreement, which came into force on Monday, contains certain clauses which the men object to.

At a mass meeting of miners at Huntly the following resolution was carried: “That we insist on an opportunity to discuss the objectionable clauses immediately, or the withdrawal of the clauses in favour of the old agreement.” A Greymouth message stated that all mines on the West Coast were idle yesterday. No reason has been given to the companies except that the men'had decided to stop work. As the secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association had promised the unions that work under the old agreement would continue till the conference be- < tween the parties had been held, the only apparent reason for the miners’ strike is in sympathy with the Huntly men. WEST OOASTIS WISHES. It was earlier stated by the West Coast executive of the Miners’ Union that all that was desired was a conference or * shelving of the new agreement. This has been promised them. The West Coast mines have been working under the old conditions and the fact that the northern conference failed to come to an agreement did not affect the South Island mines. The State mine, being affiliated with the West. Coast union, although not directly concerned in the proposed new agreement, automatically becomes idle. The James mine was to work yesterday, but union officials went out and stopped the men going into the mine.

The mines not affected include the Blackball, employing 150 men, ‘ and 23 co-operative mines on Crown and harhour board lands.

. Dunedin, reports that coal mine owners’ representatives there report that the Birchwood and Linton miners are idle, but that the Taratu and Kaitangata men are working. The latter are under court awards.

One of the owners’ representatives states that a conference had been promised to the West Coast district miners council, but it had been impossible to arrange this before the middle of June. In the meantime the West Coast men had been working under the old conditions and wages. He stated that before the Otira tunnel was opened there were only about six collieries on the West Coast. Now there were 50, most of them being outside the control of the district miners’ council.

ATTITUDE OF OWNERS RIGHT TO DISMISS MEN. HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE. By Telegraph.-—Press Association. Wellington, June 7. Mr. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Owners’ Federation, said today that it was absurd to suggest that 180'mines were affected by the coal dispute. The number of mines operated by the mining companies and concerned in the strike was less than 20. Reviewing the history of the dispute, Mr, Bishop said that in April last owners in two districts gave notice of their intention to introduce new working terms and conditions. The request of the union for a conference was agreed to, and this was to have been held at Auckland on May C. On that day the Hikurangi miners went on as a protest against the dismissal of 55 men by, the Hikurangi Company. When the conference opened the owners stipulated that the strike must be called off as a condition of the negotiations, and they received from the mill’ ers’ delegation a promise that every effort would be made to persuade the men to go back to work. The conference continued for two days, but on the second day it was announced that the strikers would not act upon the advice of their representatives, and the conference was therefore adjourned. At the end of the week the strike was called off and work resumed. The owners then fixed , a date for the resumption of the conference, but before the conference could be held Hikurangi was visited by a delegate from another district. A meeting of the local union was held and the second strike tool; place. - Notwithstanding this the conference between the miners and mine owners was again opened at Auckland on May 24, but the owners stipulated that before they would discuss other working terms and conditions the miners must agree that the owners should have the.’ right to engage and discard men at their own discretion as might be necessary to meet the circumstances of the case.

"This fight, Which is exercised by •very other employer in New Zealand, is denied to th. mine owner by the miners’ organisation,” said Mr. Bishop. “The present strike is upon that issue alone. When that is solved there will be no difficulty about th< conference upon the other working terms and conditions.” , , 5..-. x ., — 1