THE HUNTLY MINERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3665, 29 October 1912, Page 2

THE HUNTLY MINERS

WORK TO BE RESUMED THIS MORNING. COMPANY EXPECTED NOT TO OBJECT. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] HUNTLY, Oct. 18. Speaking at a meeting of'the Huntly coal -miners on Saturday, when it was agreed that the Fedorationists should resume work on Tuesday, Air Semple emphasised the fact that lack of funds necessitated the decision arrived at. Huntly remaining out of the strike meant not only the 500 men affected there, but a large number af Karangahake and possibly more elsewhere later. It was better to give the Federation a chance to fight it out to a finish at Waihi and Rcefton •now than risk failure aU over, Ho deprecated talk of the Federation turning down the Waikato miners. The Federation endorsed their action, hut the financial factor was a tremendous hurdle. Hie local Executive, numbering nine, would be provided with full wages until work was obtained by them.

Messrs Fraser and Richards spoke in the same strain and advised the men to resume work on Tuesday. It was movpd that the local men take another week to consider the position, the men in the meantime to take work wherever it was obtainable.

An amendment to the effect that the men accept the advice of the Federaton delegates and resume work on Tuesday was carred by an overwhelming majority. The meeting ended with a motion carried unanimously:

“That in the event of any further xiotimisation on Tuesday morning the whole body of men refrain from going down the mine.” The meeting is said to have been exceptionally orderly and practically unanimous.

How far the formation of the new union influenced the decision arrived at is a moot point, but it is supposed to have been an important factor, as it is generally believed that a considerable number of men were prepared to start on Tuesdav irrespective of the attitude of the Federation: As the men will resume work under an Arbitration award expiring in April it is not expected that the directors will refuse work to the men as the position will be practically the same as l>eforo excepting that the directors got rid as workers of the Executive, who are looked on as the cause of the trouble.

COMPANY’S FIRM ATTITUDE.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND. Oct. 28

The directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., mot to consider the position regarding the Huutly mines, and after nearly four hours’ deliberation came to a decision, the following official statement of which was given to a ‘’Herald” reporter by the chairman (Mr AY. Allison):

“A statement 'gas appeared to-day to the effect that if is the intention of the workers at Kuntl.v to work. No official notification of such intention has been given to the Company. Assuming, however, that such i.*? the intention of' the workers, the directors regard it as essential that the present position as between tlie Company and the workers shall he defined and clearly understood. It will ho remembered in the notice published hv the directors under (.late of October 8 and posted at the pithead, the difficulties likely to arise if the eoursc then suggested were adopted were plainly indicated. The action of the workers in refusing to resume work when the whistle was sounded on October 14 and the following days has confirmed and emphasised their previous step, and serious consequences' necessarily follow, and of which warning was given, viz. : That the provisions of Ihe existing award by which both Company and workers were hound are suspended, and the hours. of work, wages, and other conditions of work for all workers under the award arc left open to he .fixed between the Company and individual workers.

“This being the position the directors desire to state the conditions upon which individual workers, excepting those whose services have been dispensed with, will now be employed: (1) For the time being the hours of work will lie the saino as those contained in the now suspended award : (2) The directors now state definitely and clearly (a) That they are prepared to enter into a new agreement between the Company and a Union duly registered under the .Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, (h) that they will not. under any circumstances, recognise or enter into any agreement rath the Federation of Labor.”

Air Fletcher, the mine manager, was present at the directors’ meeting, -and lie was instructed to post notices to the above effect at the pithead mi his return "to Huntly at 8.30 o’clock this evening.