COAL STRIKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 June 1932, Page 5

COAL STRIKE.

1 GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. NO AT PRESENT. WELLINGTON, Friday. The Government Lag no intention at the moment of intervening in the dispute between the coal mine owners and the miners, which has led to a national strike. The dispute is regarded as one between the employers and employees. Tit is statement was made by the Minister of Mines (the lion. 0. E. Macmillan), in reply to a question. Mr Macmillan said that at the present time there was no reason for the Government to step in. Although watching the position closely, he said the Government would not interfere unless it was forced _to do so through the occurrence of unlawful acts, of which there was no sign at the moment, or unless there was a unanimous desire by both sides for the State to take part. has released for publicatioOhe text of the telegrams which passed between him and the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr 11. E. Holland. Jii a telegram to the Minister, Mr Holland said: <£ l strongly urge the Government to' bring pressure to secure an conference between Thfmine owners and miners. I feel -confident that such a conference, if arranged, would result in an agreement under which the miners would continue working. The owners’ action in insisting that miners shall accept a drastic change in existing conditions in one important particular before a new agreement shall be discussed is wholly untenable and should not be permitted to lay the Coast industry idle.” The Minister replied: “I am informed that the mine owners offered a conference on the West Coast which was agreed to, but the unions ceased work before a date could be fixed. I suggest, therefore, that you move the unions on the Coast to resume work immediately. ’ POSITION ON WEST COAST. GREYMOUTII, Friday. Union mines on the West Coast continue -idle in the absence of any indication of a conference from the employers. About 5500 tons of coal have been exported from the Grey district since the stoppage, and the bins are now being emptied. Only slack will remain at the State mines after two vessels due to-morrow have loaded. The West Coast Miners’ district secretary, Mr Purdy, stated in reply to a question that if a conference were held he believed a satisfactory settlement would be obtainable. It only required that all aspects of the matter be reviewed together by the parties in order to come to an agreement, but the miners could not accept the dictated terms in advance of a conference. Minor differences should be set aside until the exploration of all avenues w r as made jointly by the parties. No further meetings of the unions have been held in the Grey district, the attijjp&'-of the men being reported as unanimous. —(P.A.)