THE REEFTON DIFFICULTY.

West Coast Times, 15 June 1912, Page 3

THE REEFTON DIFFICULTY.

MR. COLVIN MEDIATES. NO SETTLEMENT YET. SINGLE MEN ASKED TO DEPART. [per press association.—corvßioai _ REEFTON, June 14. The Hon. Jas. Colvin, Minister of Alines, arrived last night, and met with a good reception. This morning he was interviewed bv the County Council and the Minister agreed to wire to the Under-Secre-tary of Alines, requesting him to expedite progress payments due for local works. The County Council is now employing seventy men. Air. Colvin informed the County Council, that Cabinet had passed a vote for the erection of a new post office at Reeftou.

At tho Miners’ Union meeting last night, 250 were present. Keen disappointment was expressed at the correspondence from tho Department. The meeting was of opinion that the agreement had been literally torn up. It was resolved that the Union retail Mr. P. J. O’Regan to oppose the application by the Consolidated Goldfields Company and Blackwater Company.

It was decided that lock-out pay be on tho scale of 30s for married men, with 2s 6d for each child up to four in number, and a maximum of £2; and single men 20s per week. The amounts are to be paid on or about next Tuesday. All locked-out members to report to tho Union officer.' once a week. '

A resolution was also put and unanimously carried on the recommendation of the Lock-out Committee, that all single men without dependents be asked to seek work elsewhere. The position is regarded as very serious by the Union and the men expressed a determination not to work the machines single handed.

I NO FRESH DEVELOPMENTS. j REEFTON, Juno U. , There are no further developments j in reference to the trouble, v The Hon. James Colvin visited the road works at the Progress Company i with the councillors.