DISMISSED MINERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1732, 24 April 1913, Page 7

DISMISSED MINERS.

SEEK RE-ENGAGEMENT. SOME TROUBLE AT HUNTLY. . (By Telegraph.—rr«M Association.) , Auckland, April 23.' Speaking of tho trouble which has arisen Vietween the Waikato Coal Miners' Union and tho directors of tho Taupiri Coal Mine. Company at Huntly, Mr. E. W. Alison (chairman of directors) stated to-day that ho did not anticipate that tho present agitation would oomo to anytiling very serious. Tljo position was that certain unionists desired to influence the directors to reinstate tho members of tho executive who were dismissed during tho l'eocnt trouble, : and other miners whoso services had been dispensed .with owing to tho slackening oil'of work in tho mines. For about four months flack summer there was a considerable falling-off in tho output. Tho union recently wrote to the directors asking for a conference', at which tho question of reinstating those man. whoso service had been dispensed with could be thoroughly gone into. A reply to this request was sent, m the course of which tho directors stated:—

"i'lio directors arc, as your union must 1)0 aware, always willing to moot and confer with oraployces, but m regard to this particular matter the directors think it right to state quite plainly that they havo 110 intention of reinstating any of tho men who wore dismissed. No man . has ueon, dispensed with without very careful deliberation, and tho directors oan j see no reason for a reconsideration of their action."

Tho letter concluded that tho directors could not seo that tho oonfercnco asked for could servo 'anv useful puxposo. At a meeting held in Huntly on Hon- i day a resolution was proposed: "That this ; 'Union givo tho directors of tho Taupirl Coal Mines Company 14 days' notico that, ■ if all men aro not reinstated within thai, time, they will down tools." An amendment to tho motion in favour , of holding tho matter over for considers* tion at a special goneral mooting wa( eventually carried.