HUNTLY HOLD-UP.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 22 October 1913, Page 7

HUNTLY HOLD-UP.

THE MINES IDLE. , LONG STRUGGLE FORECASTED. FEDERATION IMVOKEO. THE ENGINE-DRIVERS STAND OFF, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 21. .. Tho most interesting lcature of tho' trouble at llimtiy is tho decision of the engine-drivers hot to make common cause with , tho miners. The executive of the Minors' Union approached tho Engine Drivers' Union, with a viow to securing co-operation in tho present strike. The matter was considered at a meeting of oiigijie-diivers last night, and tho following letter was sent to the Miners' Union this morning:— "While sympathising with tho men who liavo been dismissed, wo deeply regrot tho hasty action which yon have taken, and not having recourse to tho constitutional means of taking a secret ballot to decide an issuo of such g-roat import. After having duly Considered tho contents of your letter, in conjunction with tho term of our agreement, wo have unanimously decided that wo cannot see our way cloar to accedo to your request." It is stated, on behalf of. the enginedrivers that they aro perfectly satisfied with tho working of their own agree** nieiit, and have no complaints to maker They have no case of victimisation, oi of any attempt at victimisation, This morning, when the mi;i<s whistld blew, thoso men who wont to, their occupations wore not hindered in any way by pickets wlw wero posted in various parts of tho town. Tho very peaceful nature of tho picketing haß been one of tho outstanding characteristics of tho strike. Tho supper-room of tho Miners' Union ' Hall has been fitted up as a readingroom, whoro many of tho strikers spend tlioir time reading and playing cards* On Friday next tho men aro duo to. receive their full fortnight's pay—tho ■ last that is coming to them. Mr. I Somple, Dominion organiser for thai United Federation of Labour, proceeds 'to Huntly to-iuorrow. Ho considers ib i likely that there will bo a long and bit-.' ter strugglo, for tho men were not' going to give in as thoy had done o two previous occasions. Miners' Sido of the Case. Whilo.tW company asserts that the union caxised a breacli of the agreement mado lijsfc November, by which it is liable to £50 day penalty for not taking a secret ballot awl not giving six weeks' notice, tlio 'union, on the other hand, states' that a clause in tho agreement justified it in supporting the action of members. who consider they lmvo been victimised. The union do-;' clares that tlrere are sixteen distinoV cases' of victimisation, as while sixteen unionists wero dismissed, fourteen new' men were taken on. ~ It is understood that the union, when notice was .received that work was to be slack, oifercd to divide among thorn- ■ selves all the work tho company required, thus obviating tho necessity for the- dismissal of any of tho men. When this offer was refused, by the company tl>a union further undertook to conduct a ballot amongst members aB to what men should be put off, tho ballot _ ■to bo conducted 1 ' under the union's supervision. it was explained, would have given single men the chance to give their, right of 'Work over to married m.effl who are not in a position to stand a period of enforced idleness. Tlio directors .replied! that they must, reserve tho right to use their own discretion as to whom they employed. It is calculated that 500 men are. out. The strike was, decided on without tho sanction of the United Federation, to wliicli tho union is affiliated, but the sanction of the federation is unnecessary. where victimisation is alleged, or whefo the working cwvl'tions are considered to he Both Sides Resolute. While it is well known thattho Hunt'* ly union is wot in a good condition finan* cia'.ly, yet support is expected from tho United Federation. Tho position wears a more serious aspect, as tho fight la likely to ho as prolonged as the strike twelve mojitliß ago, as both sides aro determined. War by Pamphlet. A mass meeting of the men hold last night was largely attended. From what can bo gathered, it was decided lo appeal to the United 1 edoratioii of Labour, asking that body to take up • the case of tho Huntly men. At 8 ; i further meeting of tho, men it.--.was jc-tj solved to have 10.000 pamphlets prmtij ed and circulated throughout .tlie. Do/ minion, giving tho -union's side or til? controversy. IN PARLIAMENT. i PREMIER ANSWERS A QUESTION'.! When tho of Representatives' met yesterday aftomoo», Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the Opposition, asked tho Prime Minister whether he had an.V information regarding, tlio strike at) iiuiitly, whether ho had 'received reports from any of \ his officers, or whether there, was any prospect ot an early settlement- or of- the continuanco of the mines. ' ■ /T) ~. ' Tho Hon., W. F. Masse? (Prnne Minister) said he was not qmte ablo to answer tho question as to whether tliora was any prospect of an <sarly _ settlement. 'Ho had, however, given mstruc* tioii.s that an officer of the Labour Department shoMld prooeisd to Huiit y, and that officer was already at Huntly. His business was to report on the present position- and the possibility of settlement.- Until he (Mr. Massey) received tho report ho could not give any more information tlian was a ' re '™J 11 tho newspapers. Ho hoped, I ; lo ." G^ r i that wiser counsels would pro\ail, and tkat tho men would soon resume work. Sir Joseph Ward-: lou have no tcl» graphic reports? , Mr. Massey: Nothing official. COAL RESERVE. POSITION OF LARGE CONSUMERS'. Whether it will be-, necessary to have coal shipped from AVostporfc to Auckland in order to cope with tho demands lias arisen. Seen by a Dominion representative yesterday, the manager ofa. local coal firm stated that tho Huntly, nine., being about tho largest in tho northern district, supplied- most of _tho northern requirements, hut very little Df its output'was shipped south. -If' tho strike only lasted for about two tveoks, lie considered that there wouldbo no necessity for sending coal north from West-port. This striko has been mticipatod, and consequently all t'h© large buyers have taken in large stocks So sco them through any difficulty. Thospeaker mentioned that there was an-, itlier aspect of the case, and this might jecome proiwuiiced if it wero found, lcccssary to liavo coal shipped from ft'estport. Tlio miners at AVes'tpori night bo in sympathy with the Hvintly strikers, and, if they wore and coal is leeded from tlib south, they iliigh-t rouse to work tho coal. On the whole, ;* lowGver, ho did not think that there vas any Immediate necessity for supilics, and, generally speaking, all tho' ' arijo coal consumers in the north woro '■ veil stocked.