UNREST OF WEST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16892, 17 November 1922, Page 5

UNREST OF WEST COAST.

DISSATISFIED MINERS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. November 16. There appear to be some signs oi j unrest among the coal-miners on uho J V est Coast ns a result of wages reductions and the price of explosives, ami ! there appears to be a distinct move towards disintegrating the New Zen- ; lend Miners’ Federation. Some months j ago it trar-pind that a proposal was j ueiug discussed for the formation of i a West Coast Miners' Federation. The project seems to have made headway. ■ :d it now is .-ought to establish ; o-.-trict organisations throughout the Dor.'.inion with the object of trying to' ..wee tno coal-mim owner.*, to restore ; ihe of national agreements v.:liout r-icrence to ih- Arbitration Court. Recently a conference of representative- bom the miner-.' union:Miller ion. Dem.i-l.m, Ron. Ngaka..an,. Umianga (Slum mine) and Black- ! all m< t at Jteef on. The t llov, .•solution was carried unanimously: j That wo recommend the form:.tion • if district organisations in Westland. Southland and the North Island, and j hat a Council of .Action ho the con•■oiling body in oac-h district, a na - I onal body, consisting o.f two ropre- I ntn 'vcs from each district, to be so!: | ... i. *??c proposals to be submitted by :o Miners' Federation to the ra::!: ud file for ratification.” Other resolutions carried were: “That the secretary of each district ! council inform the various companies that the miners demand an immediate 1 reduction in the price of explosive-- ti. j Is Id pier lb. this to include detonators ; and that providing the proposed organ is.ation comes into being the miners . adopt a national minimum wage policy ' in order to force the coal owners into conference to discuss the revision of j the* present awards.” In connection with this new move on , the W-si Coast. Mr P. O'Rourke, see- ! velary of the New Zealand Miners’ i Federation, has addressed a circular to r M unions condemn mg the idea of di* j trnt organisations taking the place of the Dominion Federation.