THE MINING DISPUTE.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18849, 20 January 1933, Page 7

THE MINING DISPUTE.

THE WILTON COLLIERY. STATEMENT BY OWNERS. AUCKLAND, Friday. The Wilton coal mine at Glen Massey is still closed. The following telegram was received at Auckland last evening: “The Miners’ Union contradict the press reports regarding the stoppage at Wilton. The men presented themselves for work on Tuesday, but the company closed the mine until further notice Mr P. Rally, conciliation commissioner, has been called in." The telegram was signed by Mr Gair, secretary of the union.

“ That is correct up to a point,” said Mr Ilendry Luke, managingdirector of Wilton Collieries, Limited. “ The agreement between the company and the union provides that, in the case of a dispute occurring, work shall be continued pending a settlement. A stoppage occurred over a trival matter nine months ago. I drew the men’s attention to the seriousness of their action and said the company would not tolerate such tactics. The agreement made last May included a provision to cover the point. The men have an executive to deal, with such matters, and there is no need for all the miners to stop work while that executive is discussing questions in dispute with the management. “in tlie present instance the men asked the manager for permission to hold a stop-work meeting on Monday,” said Mr Luke. “ lie agreed, provided the men were ready to begin work at eight o’clock. However, the meeting dragged on until about nine o’clock Finally, the men left work and went home. The mine was thereupon closed. It is true the men presented themselves for work on Tuesday, but tlie company is not willing to bo humbugged and is not prepared to enter into discussions with men who cannot keep the agreement into which they have entered.”

CONFERENCE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Friday. The proposals for a new agreement between the Northern Coal Mine Owners and the Northern -'liners Union were fully discussed at the. conference between I'lm parlies yesterday. Mr W. 11. I lolgale. president of the New Zealand Mine Owners’ Association, presided. When the conference adjourned a I 5 I,.in. the union's representatives had placed before the owners certain conditions to which they were ready to agree.. The representatives of llio owners will meet this morning io consider this offer and will later meet the mens representatives.