LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13811, 23 January 1909, Page 5

LABOUR.

STILL MARKING TIME. k Per Press Association. BLUNTLY, Jan. 22. The only new feature in connection with the trouble at Huntly to-day is an announcement by.the Union executive, that contrary to expectation, they do not intend to call out the enginedrivers engaged in keeping the water out of the mine. If the nroperty is flooded, which is improbable, it will be by the action of the company. Mr Manning, the secretary, declares that the men are not on strike, and th'at outside unions can legally help /the Waikato Union. The latter are/ he says, merely men in distress, and would be* receiving the charity of the other Unions. General assistance from the Unions is promised by Messrs Davis and Long, labour delegates from Auckland. It is not thought that.a settlement is at hand, despite the visit of the Minister for Mines. There is no disorder.

EFFORTS .AT ./CONCILIATION. HUNTLY, Jan. 22. The Hon. P.. McKenzie', Minister for Mines, arrived in Huntly to-night.-'and after a conference with the'.Union executive,' stated that' he found the men verv reasonable as to a proposal he put to them. If the directors ;of the company were as reasonable/ a settlement of the dispute would-be arrived at. The Minister would not divulge the terms of his proposal, stating that it must first be submitted to both sides. It is understood, however that it is proposed to set up »• Board or Commission of two representatives of each side, with an arbitrator, the' men to go to work pending the Board's decision, at once. Mr McKenzie Anil be hero again afternoon', by which time both the Union and the Company, are expected to have come to a decision as to-the Minister's proposals." " J,

EMPLOYERS AND MR TREGEAR,

AUCKLAND, Jan. 22. The Auckland Employers' Association has passed'a resolution directing the' Government's attention to the continued contributions to certain magazines of articles 6n labour matters *} Mr'Tregear, Secretary for Labour, l.no Association urge upon the Government either to" at once-stop such effusions or rid the country of Mr Tregear's ,ser : vices." A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the -Advisory,Bpard of the New Zealand Employers' Federation with a request for-it to take further action, ' ■-' •" —' '