THE COAL-MINERS.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 1

THE COAL-MINERS.

/ / +—■ THE BANK TO BANK CLAUSE. . DIFFICULTY AT DENNISTON. GENERAL TROUBLE ANTICIPATED. j [Per Press Association.] ( WESTPORT, December 19. DUNEDIN, Dec«mber 19. Mr William Scott, who has taken part in all tho conferences and disputes bejnreen the Denniston Coal Miners Union md the Westport Coal Company, looks ipon the position as. the most serious ihat the Arbitration Court has yet had o deal with, and that if the Court annot enforoe its award in this intanoe it will mean the breaking down rf the Arbitration Act. ;.,.,.■■ It is regarded locally as' significant oat there is also trouble brewing in lonneotion -with the coal mines throughmt Otago. arid. in Auckland, but so far is can be ascertained th/ unions are ~ctng independently of one another. So 'arm Otago the employers have met the tniona in conference on several occaions, but without satisfactory results. t was anticipated that the matters in uapate .would ,be brought before the \ Arbitration Court in February next, jnd that both parties Avould abide by »h« Court's decision. It is stated, tiowever, that circumstances Unknown Jo the employers have arisen, and towragnt about the present state of affairs. No reduction in wages has, It is stated, been insisted ,on by the employers, who are at a loss to understand the attitude of the unions. *^ V P I^ io \]r S ¥ ld that an y decisive Step by the Westport minem will be similarly followed elsewhere. [From Our Correspondent 1 bank to bank clause in the Act tnakes^ provision for a working day of Bight hours counted from the time when the men leave .the surface till they S St \? his & ri <s thus includes waging bs well as working time. Under .the Did conditions the men worked seven and a half hours at the face and half an hour was allowed for food / ,, Thl | I after T n «>ii the Minister of Labour fi%L?£ n J - 4- Millar > a "Post" reporter that he hacTMr Lomas at the scene of the disputed ial £w+£ !?i *£**,. % min ® 16 bought upt the bank to bank clause of the Act phoutd override the terms of an award Mcd before the Act came into force, put the Arbitration Court recently decided against that view. The Minister understood that the company had offerW ± » allow forty minutes walking time but the Denniston miners did not seeni inclined to accept this offer, though the Gremty workers had agreed to the company's terms in the matter. The general manager of the company is du c to »rnve. at Westport to-day, and there to-morrow Mr J^mias will confer with the manager and the men. "It just depends on the way the men tak c it ■' replied ,Mr Millar, when asked whether lie anticipated any serious trouble. "T f they insist on th € bank to bank clause of the Act, then, according to the Arbitration Court's decision, they will be> 'E iTift a , bre «* of T the award, and* *c shall be bound to take action against fcnem. lam in communication with the ftunere, trying to get them to come to fen agreement to prevent friction. lam in hopes that serious trouble will oe = It is understood that the company's Wlowance forty minutes would cover \ke actual walking time in the case boncerned, but the men are demanding fche Act, the whole Act and nothing >ut the Act. .It w a . peculiar position. The Jnen by insisting on an observance ,of Ihe law. will be breaking the law. How,ferer the award was arranged 1 before fche law cam c mto force. me term of the award expires, the bank to bank clause of the Act will become operative. i

In China it is not/ possible for a father to leave more property to one ion than another; all must share Jfequally.