COAL TROUBLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 5

COAL TROUBLE.

MR HOLLAND'S COMMENT. OWNERS' INFLUENCE SUGGESTED. MINISTER'S EMPHATIC DENIAL. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Monday. The Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) gave an emphatic denial tonight to the suggestion of the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr 11. B. Holland) that the Crown Law Officers had before them an ex.parte statement of the case of the mine owners only when giving-theif opinion that the miners had committed a breach of the award and the Mining Act.

"Mr Holland is quite mistaken in his statement," said the Minister, when his attention was drawn to it tonight by your representative. "The opinion of the Crown Law Officers was arrived at after the facts of the case from all points of view had been obtained and submitted to them by the Labour Department, and after considering the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the terms of its award. An exparle statement was not submitted to or obtained by the law officers on .the matter."

Mr Holland has asserted that the secretary of the West Coast Miners' Council had stated in a telegram to him that the miners were locked out for adhering to the Miners' Act and Clause 42 of the Westland award. "It is obvious," stated a recognised authority to-night, "that no serious weight can be placed on this statement, in face of the undisputed fact that, the miners took a ballot on 'strike' or 'go slow,' and made no provision for those who had no desire to follow either of these two courses, and that a majority voted in favour of 'go slow' policy. It appears to be quite evident, therefore, that the claim of the miners that they had been locked out for adhering to Clause 42 of the award, or for complying witli the Coal Miners' Act and regulations, was completely answered by their own action." As' Section 42 lias been quoted, it is appended:—"The practice of blasting coal out of the solid without pro. liminary holing or cutting shall not be permitlcd, and shot flrers shall not fire any charge until a proper amount of holing or cutting is done."

BOTH PARTIEB OBDURATE. NO FREE LABOUR IN MINES. , WELLINGTON, Monday. The suggestion that the mines will be worked by free labour if no move is made shortly by the miners to return to work, is officially denied at the headquarters of the local Mine Owners' Association. The secretary (Mr T. O. Bishop) stated to-day that he had had no further information concerning the trouble on the West Coast. The mines were still closed and would remain so until the miners abandoned the "go slow" policy and undertook to resume normal work.

Meanwhile the dispute drags on, each side apparently being equally firm in its determination to end the trouble by exhaustion. In a resolution passed by the Westport Waterside Workers' Union, fraternal greetings were extended to the miners, and the hope was expressed "that the effects of the present lock, out will penetrate so deeply into the feelings of the community that they will at last become conscious of the possibilities and risks which are liable to overtake them for such time as they bear with the private ownership of so highly important a commodity as coal." The appeal for the assistance of the unemployed miners and their dependants is being extended throughout the Dominion, and collections are being made at open air and other Labour meetings'. Incidentally resolutions are being passed, calling upon the Government to prosecute the mine owners and to re-open the mines.

The hold-up in the operations on the West Coast has been in progress for four weeks, and though coal supplies at the time the trouble com. menced were said to be sufficient, some public services have since been threatened through dwindling stocks. The position of the city services, however, is quite satisfactory, for two consignments of coal are expected ,this week, including a shipment from Newcastle. This relief is expected to ensure the running of electric lighting and other machinery for another four weeks, by which time additional orders will be to hand. The gas company also reports sufficient coal to meet requirements, supplies being received from Australia at regular Intervals.