IRE OTIRA TROUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2593, 30 August 1909, Page 5

IRE OTIRA TROUBLE.

HOPES OF A SPEEDY SETTLEMENT.

[Per Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 28. The Otira tunnel dispute was advanced a further stage yesterday, and hopes are not entertained that.a settlement will be effected shortly. Messrs. Betts and Fagan, representing the executive of the Inangahau Miners’ Union, arrived yesterday morning, and had an informal conference with Mr. P. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner, and Mr. Hagger, labor agent. The delegates have power to conduct negotiations and effect a settlement of the dispute. It has been determined that conciliation will be confined entirely to questions of lamps and short shifts, the other matters to be reserved for future consideration. The men’s grievances were fully discussed with Mr. Halley, who is confident that a settlement will be effected, and is hopeful that work will be resumed on Monday. A conference will be held when Mr. Murdoch McLean arrives. Mr. Halley expresses warm appreciation of the excellent behavior of the men.

Mr. McLean, who arrived in town, from Wellington, yesterday morning, was interviewed with a view to ascertaining whether there were any further developments in connection with the Otira trouble. Mr. McLean replied that his Wellington interview had placed his side of the case as clearly as it was possible to do, and practically covered tlie whole of the ground. “The whole point at issue,” said Mr. McLean, “is who are to be bosses, —we or the men.. During all the years we have been employers of labor we have hitherto made it an economic principle to pay our men more liberally than the prevailing rates. This practice we find is the best one in the long run, and it has always obviated any suggestion of serious labor trouble with the exception of the present contract.” Mr. McLean continued that it was an absurd contention that the dispute should hereforred to the Conciliation Commission, as the award was in force, and if a breach of that award had been committed why could not the men bring the matter before the Arbitration Court? As regards the “bank-to-bank” clause, Mr McLean expressed the opinion that it was ridiculous to contend that it should be generally introduced. It only referred to miners, very few of whom were employed at Otira, and there was no more reason for it to apply to the whole of the men than there was for it to apply to any contract whatever, laying down a drain., for instance. If the men want to work only seven hours on Saturdays and Mondays,” said Mr. McLean, “they can do so, but it can’t be expected that we’re going to pay them for eight hours.” Speaking of Bealey and the tunnel, Mr. McLean stated the industrial wheels there were running very smoothly. As regards a telegram from Greymouth to the effect that the executive of the Inangahua Miners’ Union contradicted a statement that men at Bealey were working under conditions that the contractors were endeavoring to enforce at Otira, Mr. McLean characterised the contradiction as “absolutely false.’ In conclusion Mr. McLean remarked that they had to deal with the men alone he felt satisfied there would be no cause of-friction, but it was the union lead©rs who were tli© ron.l Cciuso of the trouble. Mr. McLean left for Otira today, -aud is hopeful that a settlement of the dispute will be arrived at.

DIFFICULTY STILL UNSETTLED. CHRISTCHURCH, August- 28 The position at. Otira is unchanged. To-day the men are receiving their first “strike” pay, which is being paid, as from the 16th inst., the day on which work coa&G-d. Tlio time of tho conference with Mr. Murdoch McLean has not yet been .definitely fixed, but it will probably be on Sunday afternoon. The men are very hopeful that an offer to return to work on the old conditions, pending the settlement of the dispute, •will be accepted. Tlie township is quiet, and the good conduct of the men continues. Mr. P. Hally. Conciliation Commissioner, considers the prospects of a settlement very favorable.