Crown Mines Trouble

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VIII, Issue 2346, 8 September 1908, Page 2

Crown Mines Trouble

Latest Development

Spcciuljto the Daily Telegraph, , KARANG'AkAKE, this day. • I'lio position hero regarding the trouble ' at- the Crown mino is about the same,, thotfgh fresh developments aro daily expected. .'•- The, Millers' Union aro determined to hold out on their side, and state that the meinvdl not go back to work under tlie conditions of insurance as required by Mr. Daw. They assert, further, that in their opinion a- lock-out has occurred, juid they coiumuiiientcd with Mr, Polanjd urging Government intervention. I Mr Lomi[s, Chief Inspector of Awards, is expected to arrive in the township to-day. I Mr. Moresby, solicitor, arrives tins afternoonito explain tlie legal position to the misers.

Mr. P6|aiul has communicated with tho ofßcia|s on the matter of the lockout aspect; of the question, to tho effect that so long as the mine ; s sufficiently manned, | under the provisions of tho Mining Act, a look-out cannot be said to have . {occurred; consequently the Minister for Mines can do little.

' It nppoiirs that-according to the area, etc, and! other circumstances which have to bo taken into consideration in connection with the question of "manning" the; ground at the Crown Mines property,! sixteen employed men aro sufficient I to comply with tho requirements of it-he Act.

...The rniiour that Mr. McGowan (Minister for. Mines) is in Karangahakc, oi is daily expected, is without foundation,

The two Union delegates who sent a letter to Mr. Daw in connection with the insunnce question have received no answer. The initio and battery have both ceased work. . A num'ior of men have left .the township to look for work elsewhere. _ The whole, trouble has arisen in consequoncojof a dispute between the company and the men, concerning the- payment of [accident insurance premiums. The manacenient- hold that the premiums shojild be charged to the contractors, while the men contend that the company] should insure all their employees, in the same manner as is carried out in tho Waihi and othor minee. It appears that- the Act >'s not quite clear on jtho matter. The Prime Minister, when last in the district, intimated that he. would have the Act amended, hut sotfiir nothing has been done in this respect. The company asked tho union to; sign a document indemnifying them against responsibility for the payment in! question, but the union refused, •'