MINERS SUPPORT FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Chronicle (Levin), 15 January 1947, Page 8

MINERS SUPPORT FEDERATION OF LABOUR

ly Telegraph — Press Association WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. Lollowing upon tlie statement reported last week that the Northern Millells, Lnion had dissociated itself from the action of the national president of the united mine workers in supporting the Eederation of Labour when it called upon the waterside workers to pass the dispute over to the Federation, the president of tlie IMiners' Lnion (Mr. Prendeville) had visited Huntly and attended a meeting of the Northern Miners' Union executive, said the Minister of Labour (.Mr.' A. McLagan) tolav. Tbe executive, he said, had passed the following resolution: "Tha,t after hearing the explanation of tlie national president as to his action in connection "with the broadcast on the waterfront dispute, this exocutivc is satisfied that the national preaident acted in the hest interests of the United Mine Workers-' Union, and we recommend our members to accept the explanation. " The resolution was put to nnion members at special meetings, said the Minister, and was endorsed by 681 votes to 37. Since then Mr. Prendeville had attended a meeting of the Grey miners' central committee where •'his action was unanimously endorsed. He subsecpiently attended a meeting of tlie Buller miners' central' committee and that meeting also endorsed his action. The Buller commiltoe sent a tolegisirii to -Mr. T. Hill, national seeretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, stirling that the miners' representative who had lieen acting in conjunction with the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union ohicials had no authority to do so on behalf of the, Buller miners and had been requested to refrain from acting in that wav.