The Trouble at Komata.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9975, 22 June 1901, Page 1

The Trouble at Komata.

THE MATTER BEFORE THE MINERS' UNION.

The difficulty that has occurred at the Komata Reefs mine between, the manager (Mr F. C. Brown) and the miners in the matter of single-hand-ed work in the mine was mentioned at the meeting of the Executive of the Thames Miners' Union yesterday. It was decided that Mr James Hardman, the Vice-President of the Union, should proceed 'to Komata at once, and endeavour to arrange an amicable settlement of the difficulty. With reference to the statement appearing in our columns regarding the dispute between the miners and the manager (Mr Brown) the- President of the Miners' Union (Mr W. H. Potts) was our authority for stating that the dispute had not been brought before the Miners' Union when the disagreement took place, and that the men in ceasing work, did so quite independent of the Union. The position so far as we can ascertain, is exactly as we stated, viz., that the,dispute was not one between the Union and Mr Brown, but between the men .and the mine manager, and that the men acted quite independent of any advice tendered by. the Union. As soon as the matter was officially brought before the Union they acted wisely, as detailed above—in sending a prominent representative to ascertain if an amicable and satisfactory agreement could not be arrived at.