COAL MINES.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14728, 5 August 1921, Page 5

COAL MINES.

THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT.

MINERS’ POSITION OUTLINED

(Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 4.

Mr. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, in reply to the mine owners’ refusal to consider a renewal of the national agreement, states that the Federation will not consider local agreements. “The miners will fight to the last ditch before giving up the national agreement, which was' only brought about after negotiations had cost the Government, the miners, and the owners much money. We now have the owners refusing to continue a form of agreement under which the industry has been more settled than previously. There can only he one reason for the owners’ present attitude, namely, the separation of the miners’ unions, breaking up the Federation, so that the owners will be able to defeat the unions singly and enforce the old conditions, which were a disgrace. A preliminary conference, such as.that proposed, would be fruitless, as the miners have already decided to stand or fall by the national agreement.” Mr. Arbuckle reiterates the request for another conference to consider the renewal of the national agreement.-

The miners will cease x work if the Arbitration Court makes awards over-riding the present national agreement.