THE COAL MINERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9306, 5 August 1908, Page 1

THE COAL MINERS.

OPINIONS AT DENNISTON. RI'MOTJRS OF A GENERAL STRIKE RIDICULED. [FHOM OCX COMtESI'ONI>EXT ] WESTPORT, August 4. A correspondent from Denniston writes :—" The majority of the residents cf Dennisto:! have been highly •amused during the last few weeks over the rumour of a general strike in tli9 coalrmming industry. The rumour has given - rise to a lot of conjecture amongst the men as to the motives, by which its promoters are actuated, spmo expressing the opinion that it was desirod by the masters to bring about a ; general strike at this particular june- I ture in our industrial history; others declaring it to be the work of the Conservative section of the Press' to discredit the proposed federation of miners of. New. Zealand, the initial conference of which is due to eventuate at Greymouth on August o." The correspondent adds : "I have interviewed several prominent unionists, and they all assure me of the absolute absurdity of such rumours, and unanimously express the opinion that the miners here have no intention of striking. If anything promotes a strike in this part of the coalfield it will be the harsh, autocratic Arbitration Act now before Parliament." The Denniston coalimners have levied themselves sixpence a week in aid of the Wellington bakers on strike The present friction at Denniston is caused by the dismissal of ,a miner, who, it is stated, absented himself from his work in the mine. The management gave him fourteen days' notice in accordance with the provisions of the award, and, although a meeting has been called for Thursday night to take a ballot as to whether the miners should go out on strike on Saturday, it is not anticipated that .such a serions step as a strike will be taken. There appear to be two factions at Denniston.. One is desirous of a strike, but the other, which comprises most of the older miners on the Hill, is opposed to such drastic measures. T^ere is a possibility of two Unions being formed at Denniston, as a certain section of the miners is dissatisfied; with th^Vbreiab away from the Arlutr&uMsotirs- a.nd;de3ii>es toT-egrHter-. Nothing definite, has been done in this direction yet. . •