COAL MINING DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1932, Page 9

COAL MINING DISPUTE

WEST COAST UNION VIEWS

OWNERS BLAMED FOR STOPPAGE.

CONDITIONS TO CONFERENCE,

LATEST OFFER TO THE MINERS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, Last Night. The secretary of the United Mine Workers, Mr. McLagan, referring to the statement of Mr. Holdgate, the mine owners’ president, said the owners had refused an unconditional conference to discuss all matters in dispute as asked by the miners. The owners wanted, the unrestricted right to engage and dismiss men as‘ a prior condition to the conference. No date had been fixed for a West Coast conference as promised, the only reason given being the engagements of the secretary, Mr. Bishop. Mr. McLagan denied the statement that he had persuaded the Hikurangi

miners to strike on May 24. He said they decided at a meeting on May 22 not to resume until the dismissal notices issued to 55 of their members were withdrawn. The Hikurangi men ceased work when the notices were first issued and resumed when informed that the Hikurangi Company would meet them and discuss the matter, but the company did not meet the union, and as the dismissal notices took effect on May 21 the union on May 22 decided not to resume until all the members could restart on a system of sharing work. Mr. Holdgate on May 24 told the Hikurangi delegates that the company had intended to meet the union, but that Mr. Bishop was not available earlier. The delegates then informed Mr. Holdgate that Mr. McLagan had not advised striking. Mr. McLagan added that the general stoppage was due to the owners locking out the Waikato miners on June 4. Previously the owners and miners used to draw up agreements at district conferences, first on the West Coast, then in northern districts, and then in southern districts. The miners were still desirous of following the same procedure on this occasion, but the owners ignored the districts and served demands on the northern and West Coast miners with the intimation that these came into force on a certain date. Each time the northern miners met the owners to dis-

cuss a new agreement, said Mr. MeLagan, the owners held up the negotiations by demanding the acceptance of the absolute right to engage and dismiss miners, and northern miners finally were locked out. The owners a month ago gave the assurance of a conference to the West Coast miners but had not yet agreed to a date. Responsibility for the stoppage, . Mr. McLagan said, lay with those substituting the lock-out method for the previous district conference method.

Mr. Bishop to-day' telegraphed Mr. Purdy stating that the owners would consider any proposal regarding the holding of a conference if West Coast miners desire such a conference. Messrs. Purdy and McLagan in reply suggest that all the miners resume under the old agreement next Monday, and that an unconditional conference be held immediately, preferably at Greymouth of Westport.