COAL MINES STRIKE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21156, 4 July 1940, Page 11

COAL MINES STRIKE

NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS ' • fa SHIPPING NOT AFFECTED NATIONALIST RESOLUTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) GREYMOUTH, Wednesday The miners employed at the James, Liverpool and Strongman State mines, who went out on strike on Monday when the management declined to reinstate a trucker who was recently dismissed, were idle again today, and there is practically no likelihood of a resumption tomorrow, although it is understood that negotiations are still proceeding between the State Miners’ Union and the Mines Department, Wellington. So far shipping has not been affected to any great degree at Greymouth, but rail consignments have fallen away. The Greymouth branch of the National Party, at a meeting today, agreed that it was not a matter for individual unions to take the settlement of disputes into their own hands by arbitrary action, but for the Government, which had framed legislation to deal with disputes. It was decided that the matter be referred to the Government, with a request that the wartime regulations be enforced, as the loss of production had such a serious effect on the Dominion’s war effort. Mr G. E. English, president of the State Miners’ Union, stated today that he would giVe the matter full publicity when a settlement is reached. WOULD NOT BE DRAWN MR FRASER AND INTERJECTION STRIKE CALLED BAD MISTAKE (By Tele&rapn.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday An Opposition interjection of “What did the State miners do today?” was heard when the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, in his speech in the House of Representatives tonight, expressed the opinion that workers and miners, who had f voluntarily levied themselves 10 per ' cent to help their fellow-workers in | an industrial struggle, would accept i the national security levy when their homes and lives were in peril. “I am not going to be drawn,” re--1 plied Mr Fraser. “The State miners j are just as good as members of the | Opposition and myself. I believe | there has been a bad mistake made | there and that they have taken up ! the wrong attitude. As they have 1 taken that stand it is the Government’s duty to enforce the law. It i is not a good thing to sort out miners, | waterside workers, farmers or any I particular section for attacks at I present, because we want solidarity.” I “But we don’t want to show weakness,” remarked Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition —Central Otago). I “No section of the community can Ibe allowed to defy the collective people embodied in the State,” re- . plied the Prime Minister. “I know | a good many people in the Runanga i district. They are loyal and I hope * common sense will prevail there.”