THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2295, 9 January 1909, Page 5

THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

THETROUBLE PROBABLY ENDED GOVERNMENT WILL ISSUE INSURANCE POLICIES WITHOUT EXAMINATION.

[Press Association.] •

WELLINGTON, Jan. 8

The trouble over medical examination of miners in consequence of an alteration in the Ihw making mine owners liable, to compensation, when an employee becomes disabled through pneumaconiosis within twelve months of contracting the disease, will, in all probabilty, be promptly ended, for the Cabinet, after further considering the matter, yesterdrxy decided that the Government would take the financial risk involved in issuing Insurance policies without medical examination. The Prime Minister, accordingly telegraphed the President of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation las follows: “R. Semple, Esq., Reef ton .—ln further reference .to my wire of yesterday the Government will legislate early next session with a view of removing present difficulties and making the Act workable. Pending Parliament dealing with the matter, the Government will indemnify the Government Insurance Department against loss for policies covering pneumoconiosis under section 10, and will authorise the Department to issue policies without medical examination or declaration a« to health. In taking this course the Government rely with confidence on the honor of the miners that none but bone fide cliiims will be made. As I have to leave Wellington to-night I should be glad to have an early reply.—J. G. Ward.” UNIONIST ACTION AT AUCKLAND PROPOSAL TO REFUSE TO UNLOAD COAL. (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. S. As a result of telegrams received from the Waikato Coal Miners’ Union a meeting of labor unions has been convened at Auckland-, to-morrow night to consider the advisability of the waterside workers refusing to unload vessels bringing imported coal. THE POSITION AT THE THAMES SOME MINERS WORKING. [Press Association.] THAMES, Jan. S. There is no chlinge in the local position so far as the miners’ trouble is concerned. The miners who after the first meeting of the Union were examined resumed work, and are still at work. • No demand has been made on them to cease. Though it is contended that they acted with undue haste, the fact that the Thames Union consists of three brunches, whose vote must be taken collectively, tends to somewhat complicate matters, -as the conditions differ considerably, whereas one mine employs the bulk of the miners at Karan gain ke. Thames, and Coromandel, there are a large number of small mining concerns, whose financial position is such that they cannot incur the extra harden. The men appear to think that rejection at the hands of a doctor xvill practically class t-liem as inferior workmen, though the local managers say they will employ the men afflicted, and that they already know from personal observataion those suffering. It is contended that under a clause of the Act a man must die -.r become incapacitated after contracting it, otherwise he will not benefit, a< the Hwages of che disease are slow, and extend in some cases for many years. Objection is raised to the clause if t-lie local interpretation is correct. Another point is that where men change employment frequently, as they do at the Thames, miners will be compelled to submit to examination at each re-employment, which would be harassing, annoying, and entail considerable expense. A meeting will bo held later in the day. It is hoped a resolution will,he arrived at by which the men now out can resume work. THE SITUATION AT REEFTON. THE QUESTION OF POLICE PROTECTION. (Press Association.) REEFTON,. Jan. S. The situation is unchanged. Strom* resentment is felt at the Government by tho workers who accuse them of dallying with the position. The Premier’s reply is considered most unsatisfactory from their point of view. Some of the men are still leaving. The employers take strong execution to Mr Guinness’s telegram to the Minister of Justice remonstrating against calling in policemen to guard the mines. They state that the watch • linen guarded the mines all through the Christmas and New Year holidays. This was done till Monday, morning, 4th January, when the watchmen left without notice, this constituting, in the employers’ opinion, a strike. They then approached the Union with a. request that men, for -protection only, not to work, should bo allowed to go on. This the Unin refused. The companies, not being able to get unionists, applied for non-unionists, but 'received no response. Therefore they were compelled to ask police protection of valuable property, not against the unionists, but against ordinary risk of theft. The situation is telling severely on trade. The credit system has suffered for a. long' tim<r «uid it leaves tradesmen with large sums of money on their books dependent on the work of the miners. The cessation of that work consequently acts at. once on trade. Problems are cropping up m this connection every day. The behavior of the men is most exemplary. There is a strong ieeling against medical examination.

POSITION AT THE THAMES. SHORTAGE OF COAL. ' . THAMES; Jan. S. The present mining difficulty is Laving an effect- on tlio supply ot coal to tlie, Haurnki pumping : plant. Quantities of sawdust are being used in the main pumping plant, so as to economise the coal. The pump draws its coal supplies .principally from Wai-

kato, Ngunguru and Hikurangi. As each of these coal mining districts are effected by the present difficulty, the supply of coal will show a considerable decrease unless a solution is arrived at. The stoppage of the Ilauraki pump would be a disastrous thing for the district and would nullify 'a good deni of valuable work. A largely attended meeting of the Thames Miners’ Union decided to send the President (Mr Sawyer to Auckland as a delegate - toji combined meeting of the Labor Unionists to-morrow night. It also decided to allow pump employees to remain in their employment, the opinion being expressed that , the, pump should remain working in the interests of nil concerned and of the industry itself. The meeting considered at length various propositions and eventually decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday.

OTAGO

NO TROUBLE LIKELY

DUNEDIN/Jan. 8

A conference of coal mine-owners was to have been held to-day to consider the question of medical examination of the men, but owing to the absence of the managing director of one of the most important mines it will be postponed, probably till Tuesday. It is not thought likely that any trouble will eventuate in Otago.