THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2394, 8 January 1909, Page 5

THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

THE POSITION AT REEFTON. BUSINESS AFFECTED. (Press Association.) REEFTON, Jan. 7. Incessant rain again yesterday damped all concerned in the deadlock. Owing to the refusal of the Union to allow mines and batteries to be watched the companies asked for police protection for night watchmen, as ’it is impossible to obtain men. Several police are being drafted here in consequence. A large number of men are. drifting away, but still there arc many inen in Reefton doing nothing. The crisis is-affecting trade already. Business is very dull. Great hopes are held that the Government Insurance Department will ultimately come to the rescue. The linen are hoping against hope.

The Minister of Labor informed Mr O’Regan that Mr Hickey, well known in the ■Blackball dispute, while lecturing at Nelson, as reported in the “Now. Zealand Times”, said that 50 per cent of the miners were affected with phthisis. The statement is not well received here.

ACTION OF MINERS’ FEDERATION. -

TRYING TO STOP IMPORTATION OF COAL.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 7

The “Star’s” Huntley correspondent wires that the Miners’ Federation is cabling to Newcastle, urgingthe unionists to stop supplies of coal for New Zealand "companies. It is also arranging a, conference of unions in Auckland with a view to stop the unloading of the imported coal. It is stated that there is a probability of the southern coal miners being called out in sympathy with the northern coal minors’ determination not to submit to medical examination. 'Phe Waikato Miners’ Union has decided to cite the company for creating a lock-out, and having failed to give the requisite notice. SUGGESTIONS BY THE PREMIER. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. A lengthy telegram dealing with the' difficulty which has arisen on the West Coast and elsewhfere owing to the employers’ insistence on a medical , examination of miners was sent by the Premier Sir J. G. Ward today to Mr R. Semple, President of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation. Sir Joseph Ward suggests Hat the miners should submit themsoivos to a medical examination 1 y G >veivment edical officers, which i odd be without cost, for pneunrmoco liosis alone, and he details the position taken up by the Government Insurance Department in relation to the risk .described in Clause 10 or the Workers Compensation let. The-te-legram reads: “R. Semple, Esq., President Miners’ Federation, Reefton. • -The . Government lias obtained legal advice upon the points of law and s, re ieceipt of the same the v ioie i u tier has been reconsidered by tbe t-cvoin-ment Accident Insurance 1 apartment. The Department rerorts that it is unable to* accept the cr.luimvn responsibility involved— n tlm p<posal to insure miners without 1 «r:ical examination; 2nd. The Government Accident Insurance Department points out. that a preliminary medical examination effectually avoids all trouble, and that the miner who gi ts a clean bill of health, establishes, ipso facto, his claim to compensation with, in the statutory limits in the event of his being subsequently incapacitated. The Department also directs attention to the fact that it is quite impossible at the present time for miners in any part of the world to get their lives insured for £SOO at death (the benefit provided under the Workers Compensation law) without medical examination to see whether they are free from plithisiss or any other disease and that a similar course is necessary in the case of applications to join friendly societies, and further there is no more of indignity involved in miners being asked to submit themselves to. medical examination .than in the cases referred to. 3rd. I would suggest for the consideration of the miners that they agree to medical examination provided it is carried out by tho Government medical officers, such medical cxaniinaton to he for pneuinonoconiosis only. 4th. The only other course that .suggests itself is that pneuiuonoconiosis should bo struck out of the legislation alto-' gotlier at tho next meeting of Parliament. sth. Steps are being taken to have the interpretation of clause 10 defined by the Supreme Court under the Declaratory Judgments Act of last session and on ‘receipt of this tho matter will be further considered in order to meet the position of the judgment to enable the Government to do so. —J -G. Ward.” Tho “Now Zealand Times ’ understands that the steps to obtain an interpretation of the law have already been put in hand and that a hearing of the Labor Department’s application for an interpretation of Clause 10 is likely to take place within a few days. WELLINGTON TRADES COUNCIL. SUPPORTS 1 MINERS’ . ACTION. WELLINGTON, J'an. 7. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council to-night passed a resolution endorsing the action of the Turners’ Federation in refusing to submit to anedical examination and assuring the miners of moral, and financial support. POLICE PROTECTION OF MINES. A PROTEST AND A REPLY.

Protests against the drafting of police to Reef ton in connection with the anining difficulty were forwarded to the Premier through the Hon. A. R. Guinness. Sir ard, afinquiries, forwarded tlie iollovin<f answer: “In reference to youi telegram re suggested massing of police constables at Reetton, I him, upon inquiry from the Justice Department, that this is not correct. You state that sixteen constables are proceeding to Reefton. I am-advised by the Department that' seven constables were, at the request of the

mine owners, told off for special duty at the batteries, namely, one to each, and that the same number of constables, l amely seven, wore sent to replace those removed from their ordinary duty. This is a matter of the ordinary administration of the police and is not directed by the Minister in charge or by the Government. There is no reflection either directly or indirectly upon the miners, of whom I also entertain the highest opinion and would not be a party to reflecting upon them in any way.”

THE POSITION IN OTAGO.

NO SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS

DUNEDIN, Jan. 7. Nothing- serious has eventuated locally in connection with the new Compensation Act. The coal mine owners will hold a meeting to-morrow to decide on a course of action regarding the medical examination of the men. Employers, for their own sake, are in favor of insisting on medical examination, but they recognise that such a course would precipitate trouble. It seems not unlikely that the Otago employers will decide not to ask for medical examination, but to accept the risk in tho hope that Parliament will amend the new law. Inquiries show that painters do not take tho position seriously. Mr Gillies, President of the Master Painters’ Association, says that be knows only one case of lead poisoning in 23 years and he does not think the insurance companies justified in asking for medical examination or increase in rates.

SHORTAGE OF COAL.

PUMPING SUSPENDED AT

AVAIHI

WAIHI, Jan. 7. Pumping operations in the Waibi mine have been suspended owing to the shortage of coal. Tile suspension does not affect the general work in the mine, and tbe batteries will continue to crush as usual.