STOCKTON MINE DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 438, 2 December 1930, Page 8

STOCKTON MINE DISPUTE

UNION SECRETARY’S STATEMENT I Per Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, Dec. 1. Mr A. AlcLagan, secretary of the United Aline Workers, to-night made the following statement regarding the Stockton mine dispute: “A general meeting of the Stockton Miners’ Union yesterday condemned the action of Air C. D. Betts, independent chairman in the new shift dispute, in not giving a straight-out decision in accordance with the terms of his appointment, and the union repudiated Air Betts’ so-called recommendation, which he had no authority to make and which carried not the slightest weight. At the same time the union recognise'! the company’s determination to enforce the nevi’ shift, which is contrary to the provisions of the agreement, and rather than expose members to the effects of a long continued lockout decided, by a small majority, to work the new shift under protest. The union calls attention to the company’s breach of the agreement drawn up last June, and the arbitrary action of the management in locking the men out because they refused to abandon their agreement, such action being regarded as an ironical commentary on the coal owners’ alleged respect for the sanctity of agreements.”