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Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 8

being satisfactorily settled by the Royal Commission, which had proved * t far more satisfactory means of settling grievances than the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act.. , EFFECT OF CONTRACTINO-OUT.

SPECIAL SESSION SUGGESTED.

(BY TELEGBAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)" Auckland, January 5. Tho owners of coal-mines state that their liabilities under 'the new clause are' too heavy and too uncertain for them, to risk employing men any'longer who are suffering from miners' complaint' unless I 'those; mencontract .(as they can do -under : the . new Act) not to claim compensation -for that particular disease. This, it" is-contended, the men cannot do until they know, whether i or not they are suffering from it, a condition which only a medical/examination can. disclose. .-, The owners would,, it:appears,- be prepared to pay extra premiums, but the insurance, companies will not, accept the risk even then, not knowing the liability involved. A that no draft of the new Bill appears : to'have been submitted either to .the masters-or to the/men.''-..-

It is claimed that the miners are unrear sonable in their refusal. to submit to the medical.examination. Any man found thereby to' be suffering from miners' complaint, and consequently rejected, will, the companies state, be bmployed on signing the necessary'document undertaking to make no claim in respect' of miners' complaint.' They would thereforo be in exactly as good \ a position as under the old Act (whieh made no. mention of compensation for the disease in question), and would, furthermore, be entitled to- the fiill benefits of the new Act, which are,greater than, before., The mine-owners complain that ; owing -to the libn-cifculatioh of the 'Bill, to' the holidays, and'.ft) the-quite recent date of the insurance companies' decision, they have had

no time to go into' the: questions.at issue, ' being confined to taking the. only obvious course of instructing their managers to see . that all-employees .are' medically, examined. . The, opinion, is expressed that -the effect. 'of ' the provision..iti the-new Act could .never have been : properly considered by the Government.' •''.-•. A ■..• ''■' ' '■:,' . .v.. •,"';■' ■ •'• Tho peculiarity of the'situation,; of course;. . ;is'.that.although there is no dispute in-j.the accepted senselof the interests; both • >of the employers,arid the'employees, .to say nothing of th'evconsnmers,}are suffering. ow : . ing'to an ill-considered condition imposed by Government. It:is understood,that the ■ Employers' Association, is mating; representations :to "tho 'Government regarding.the' ; :pre--sent troume/rwith';'a' ; vie\v; to'removing.the' : deadlock. ;"''.'. .'■-'■'.'. ■,„ "'•'; v «No information.-is-.ava'ilable locally;the.' attitude, or intentions of the various gpjdmining companies, .b.ut the;;question is -.under consideratioriv'so ,far :.as ;it; : affects ; their-in; terests. v.. 'J;.-.','-'. ': ,: .-X.-, ;"'■:■'/•■. '.'• i '--y'' "'&£•!■: ■ .Commenting-on :the', situation, the -Herald" says:—"There are. several very ;obvious. ways in which the Act. might;be amended to end the existing, deadlock, and; unless some workable arrangement 'is 'promptly: arrived 'at between-the: miners .and ::mihe-owners a.special session •of-Parliamentishouldbe'summoned to consider the;question...':There should ..be)no hesitating on the ..part, of 'the.;' Government to'do-this should the. occasion require, Vfdr. the Dominion pays its'.legislators as .well; ;'a's its Ministers, arid has a right to expect them. to 1 take all reasonable care to;prevent serious industrial disturbance. The' matter,>.agajn,'' brings into public prominence the reprehensible legislative habit of enacting important ' and far-reaching, measures' in a casual.'and : inconsiderate fashion.".: *• -..-. .... : ':'.;;- BLACKBAP'S'-ATTITUPR^ ' /'., '.rIBT TILEGBArB—r'EUS's. *SSOCI*TION.J ;■. Crey'mouth, January..s;;;;.: ■ '.The Blackball.Miners",Union last, night;enV " dorsed the- action of the' Reefton: gold-miners,'-and' the ;Waikato expressed • sympathy and' promised''financial, support. ; '; It -is ' held that'the-Government, should; enddavour , to ■;' have 'the ..risks .taken by.Hhd;.. insurance; . companies', and;'it 'Iwill ,bo;. urged'.;: upon; !' Claiu'sevW, wMch'Jenabjes:men' l',' to contract butVdf',the. Act^.is.'Unius'tv.