THE MINING CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14136, 13 August 1919, Page 6

THE MINING CONFERENCE

A better outlook. IN COMMITTEE. (Special Corrtspondent). WELLINGTON. Tuesday. A critical stage in the proceedings o. the Mining Conference was reached on Wednesday afternoon, when Mr Arhuckle, one of the Federation’s delegates, who had maintained a somewhat aggressive attitude throughout the sitting, bluntly accused the Hon. E. \V. Alison, the president of the Mine Owners’ Association, of telling “a deliberate lie.” It was only the tact and firmness of the chairman. Sir George Clifford, that rescued the Conference from a very perilous position. Mr Arbuckle wanted to argue the point, but Sir George would listen to neither excuse nor explanation till the offensive words were withdrawn. Ultimately the angry delegate bowed to the inflexible ruling of the chair and made the amende honorable quite handsomely, admitting that he had spoken in the heat of the moment and expressing regret for his indiscretion. With the little storm over the delegates settled down to business more seriously md by the conclusion of the sitting appeared fo have drawn much nearer to ah amicable settlement of their differences.

The position now is that the representatives of the Federation have agreed to hold over their “five points” and that a committee, consisting of three delegates from each side, has been set up "to discuss the possibility of going on with the consideration of the demands other than those withdrawn for the time being." The adoption of this course is due to a happy inspiration on the part of Mr T. S. Weston, one of the Association’s delegates, who submitted it to the Conference in a conciliating little speech, which found favour with both sides. It is hoped that the committee’s deliberations will result in the formulation of a scheme that will enable at least the minor points in dispute to he temperately and fairly discussed. Meanwhile the committee is sitting in camera, the admission of the Press to the general Conference having served its purpose by informing the public on the points at issue and giving it a broad view of the delegates’ contentions.