No Settlement In Mines Dispute

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1948, Page 2

No Settlement In Mines Dispute

WELLINGTON, July 16. No agreementJias been reaclied foi tlie settlement of the disputo at tliy Runanga coalminos as a result of this woek 's negotiations between the Government and rcpresentativoH of the Runanga Miucrs' Union. -As a rneuns of overcouiing the doadlock the Priruo Minister suggested that both sides agree to the dispule being referred to ari independent arbitrator and that Work be roaumed in ihe iueanlime, but this suggestioii has. been rejected by the union. The Minister' oi' Mines (llon. A. McLagan) stated tonight tliat inenibers of the Miners' Aational Council were present during Ihe greater part oi" the diseussions between Ihe I'rime Minister and hinisell' and Ihe representatives of the Runanga Union. The union representatives said il had been tlie cusLoxu for many years i'or the union to be allowed to l.iold stopwyrk meetings without membei^i beiiig doeked for loss oi' timo in atlend'mg the meetings. In reply to this Ihe Minister. of Mines said the hUute Mines Office at Runanga had Iveeu asked to examine ! their records whicli for the ytronginan inine for 1947 showed that during the year th'o meu were docked on six occasi'ons for attending stopwork meetings. Tlie claim that it was customary not to Blake any deduction for attending such meetings was not raised on any occa- •' sinn during 194?.