THE COAL DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14582, 3 February 1921, Page 5

THE COAL DISPUTE

STILL UNSETTLED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) Vv ELLINGTt LN, Wednesday. A settlement of the coal dispute arising out of the alleged case of victimisation at Blackball is not yet in sight. The position, in fact, is rather less promising than it was a day or two ago. Tlie Slate coal miners have rejected the proposal for the constitution of a committee representative of the employers and the men to adjudicate upon the points at issue, and they are supported by the miners at Blackball and at one or two. of the other collieries. They refuse to discuss the matter in the way suggested till the man dismissed at Blackball is reinstated. It is staled, however, that a majority of the miners throughout the Dominion are favourable to the appointment of the committee, and that the officers of the Miners’ Federation are in sympathy with them. This report obtains some colour from' the bearing of Mr Arbuckic, the secretary of the Federation, who, while as insistent as the veriest firebrand upon the miners enjoying their full rights, is by no means ill-disposed towards methods of conciliation. There is a rumour about, too, that the miners’ ballots on the West Coast of the South Island are not always conducted in a fashion to allow the men a free expression of opinion. They may bo unfair to the officials concerned, but it is recognised in mining crcles that the, West Coast is the storm centre, of coal troubles, and that the miners here arc under much stricter “discipline,” than are those in other parts of the country. The suggestion is that they are not free from pressure, which is altogether inconsistent with the spirit of the ballot, “GO SLOW” ABANDONED. AT TDK PUKEMIBO MINT,. HUNTLY LIKELY TO FOLLOW. fßv Telegraph. —Special 1o Times.) HUNTLY, Thursday. The Ihikcmiro coal miners have abandoned ihc “go slow” policy and resumed the normal output. It is understood that the Tanplri mine employees at Huntly will act similarly though dellnile information is not available. KIRIPAKA MINE CLOSED. OVtfn CONTINUANCE OF “GO SLOW.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Thursday. “Go-slow” tactics continued at the Northern Goal Company’s Kiripaka mine with the result that yesterday the works closed down indefinitely. The manager of (he company recently arranged with the miners to put out JOO tons of .coal daily, and in the meantime to communicate with the Federation on the question of discontinuing the “go-slow” policy. The Federation replied that “go-slow” must continue. The men were then informed ny the manager that they must either call off the “go slow” or take the tools out of the mine. The men adopted the latter course.