LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13991, 28 August 1909, Page 6

LABOUR.

THE OTIRA TROUBLE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, August 27. The Otira tunnel dispute advanced a further stage to-day and hones are now entertained that a settlement will he effected shortly. Messrs Betts and Fagan, representing the executive of Inangaima Miners' Union arrived this morning and had an informal conference with Mr P. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner and jMr Hagger, Labour Agent. The delegates have full power to conduct negotiations and expect a settlement of the. dispute. It has been determined that conciliation will be, confined entirely to the questions of la in lis and short shifts; other matters' to be reserved for future consideration. Tho men's grievances were fully discussed with Mr Halley, who is confident that a settlement will be effected and is hopeful that work will be resumed on Monday. A conference will be held when Mr Murdoch McLean arrives. Mr Halley expresses warm approval of the excellent behaviour of the men. Mr Murdoch McLean, who arrived in town from Wellington this morning was interviewed to-day with a view to ■•scertaiiiierc whether there were any further developments in connection with the trcbl". Mr McLean rcplie' 1 that his Wellington interview had placed his side of the case as clearly as it was possible to do so, and practically covered the. whole of the grounds. "The whole point at issue." paid Mr McLean, "is who are to be the bosses- —we or the men? During all the years we have been employers of labour we have hitherto not had the slightest semblance of a strike, the reason heinr; that w» have made it an economical nriii'-'ole to nay our men mm-p I'lvraUv than the preyi'lii l "- rates. This practice we find is the best one |

in the long run, and. has always obv mted any suggestion of serious labour trouble, witli the exception of the present contract." Mr McLean adJt was an absurd contentßin vlint the dispute should be referred to the Conciliation Commissioner, as an award was. in force, and if a breach >f tiiat award had been committed, why could not the men bring the matter before the Arbitration Court. As regards the " bank to bank '' clause, Mr McLean expressed the opinion that it was ridiculous to contend that it liquid he rrenerally introduced. It only referred to miners, very few of whom were employed at Otira, and -■'■ ere was no more reason for it to apply to the whole of the men than uliere was for it to apply to any contract whatever—laying down a drain for instance. "If the men want to vo'-k only seven hours on Saturdays and Mondays," said Mr McLean, ■'they can do so, but it cannot be expected that we are going to pay them for eight hours." Speaking of tinHealey end of the tunnel, Mr McLean stated that the industrial wheels there were running very smoothly. As regards the telegram from Greymouth to the effect that the executive of the Jnangahua Miners' "Tnion contradicted the statement that the men at Bealey were working under the conditions that the contractors were endeavouring to enforce at Otira. Mr McLean characterised the contradiction as " absolutely false." In conclusion, Mr McLean remarked that had they to _ deal with the men alone, he felt satisfied tint there would be no friction, hut it was the union leaders who were the real cause of the trouble. Mr McLean leaves for Otira to-morrow and •s hopeful that a settlement of the dispute will be arrived at.