THE COAL STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 159, 25 March 1918, Page 6

THE COAL STRIKES

GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION

UNLESS WORK RESUMED

PROSECUTIONS UNDER WAR REGULATIONS THREATENED.

The following telegram relating to the strikes in the West Coast coalmines has been sent to the local representative of the Labour Department on the- scene of the troubles by the bend of the Department in Wellington, Mr. F. Rowley:—

I am directed by the Prime Minister to inform the officers of the coal-miners' unions whose members

are on strike as follows: Ihe action

of the coal-miners who have stopped work at certain of the mines has already greatly interfered with the industries of the Dominion, and with the essential duties of the New Zealand Government. Such action 'by men working under awards is unlawful under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and it is also a serious offence against the AYar Regulations. The Prime Minister trusts that the men will return to work at onco. If. they do not he greatly regrets that it will bo the imperative duty of the Government to direct that proceedings be taken without further delay under the AA'ar Regulations: Please fhform the principal officers of those unions accordingly at once.

THE LEVY ILLEGAL

It is reported that the present strike at the State mines is due to the refusal of some of the men to pay a levy imposed by the union for the benefit of the workers who took part in the_ recent big strike in Australia. Strikes did occur at other mines over this trouble, but these other strikes were of short duration. The law of Now Zealand is that any such levy is illegal and that any men who have already paid sums under it are entitled to recover in the Law Courts the moneys they have paid.