THE MINERS' STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 6

THE MINERS' STRIKE

STILL HOPE OF TRUCE NELSON MEN CEASE WORK • Although another mine on the AVcst Coast closed down yesterday, hopo is not ,yct abandoned that the strike may yet ho called off, and that work will bo resumed. The situation is not materially affected by the closing of the North Capo and Puponga- pits, because they produce only a household coal. The men there have made big demands, however. They demand tho repeal of tho Conscription Act, they are against tho Arbitration Act, and they want 17i per cent, increase in wages. • And, of course, they are not in sympathy with the Blackball men. The Blackball men liad a meeting on Sunday, but adjourned it until last night, awaiting news from other centres. In view of tho evident desiro of the Miners' Federation Executive that these local strikes should not, continue, the Government awaited tho result of the interview of their delegates with the Blackball men before deciding upon any action. The result of that interview is not yot known, but it was decided by the Government yesterday that tho Minister of Minos (tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) should leave for tho Coast to-day to bo on tho.spot. Mr. P. Wobb, M.P., is also going down. NORTH CAPE ANITpUPONGA MEN CEASE WORK. Nelson, Decomber 4. Tho miners at the North Capo and Puponga mines struck to-day as a protest against conscription. Tho managing director of tho North. Cape Coal Company states that 'the Puponga Miners' Union, which includes tho men at both tho Puponga and tho North Capo mines, liave intimated tliat tho miners would not return to work till tho Military Service Act and the Arbitration. Act aro repealed, a further condition being an increase of 17$ per cent, on tho present hewing rates. ■Tliero aro iifty ; five men at tho North Cape Mino and sixty at Puponga. SEAMEN AND MINERS NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT AUSTRALIA Tho secretary of tho Federated Seaf men's Union W. T. Young) has issued tho following statement iu reply to tho version given, by tho Miners' federation of tho negotiations concerning New Zealand's attitude to the Australian coal strike:— "Respecting tho miners' statement ... no good purposo will be accomplished iu Labour's cause by a continuation of diverse controversy between organised Labour bodies, except to say that it is conspicuous in an absonce of reference to bunker coal supply of Australian which was tho fundamental point of disagreement; that between the forwarding and receipt of cables and conference with seamen, thero is a lapse of ten and five days respectively; that in conference and at 5.10 p.m.-Mr. Roberts stated that the typewritten terms wore open to amendment as conference directed; that they had been submitted merely as a basis for discussion, and at 5.45 stated they were'not open to modification; that the individual expressions of opinion by, a seamen's representative respecting new agreement and shipowners were not the sentiments of the Seamen's National Executive, and bis two co-representa-tives disagreed with his remarks; and that is supported by the seamen having agreed to out off coal cargoes for Australia, which is practically what the cablegram of Mr. Willis asked for, and not to limit bunker coal supply of transports, hospital ships, and Australian traders. Seamen were not asked to! confer on terms, hut to appoint a representative to a deputation to interview' Ministers that evening. It was only after Mr. Semple, by request, interviewed the Seamen's National Executive and was taken to task for ignoring seamen as to terms, that it was arranged to confer on terms. "A demand of the.miners was, in effect, that 250 or 300 seamen be thrown out of employment to permit of miners continuingin their jobs ;jthat, of course, is a brilliant idea; magnificent in its strength; the "brotherhood of man and not. selfishness."