ATTITUDE OF THE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 283, 19 August 1918, Page 6

ATTITUDE OF THE WORKERS

RESULT OF THE BALLOTS

(Special to the Christchurch "Sun.")

T ... Otira, August 17. . In a statement to a "Sun" representative to-day, Mr. R. Semple (miners' agent) ana Mr. P. O'Rourke (president of the Miners' Federation) stated that the Miners' Union said that for years past the employers had challenged tho Miners Federation to- take secret ballots, and tho miners' conference decided to submit the question on this occasion —or, in other words, it has accepted the employers' challenge. They made bold to say that the answer would bo very decisive against the employers' charges The result of the national ballot will be handed to the Press within a few days. They said that the Federation exeeutivo had exhausted every means ,possible to prevent an industrial upheaval. They fully recognised that we were living in abnormal times, and that reason should prevail on both sides. \ The employers, however, had taken advantage of abnormal conditions and the War Regulations to force their will on the miners, They ignored the men's organisation and refused to discuss tho troublo with their representatives. In tho North Island the Taiipiri Company and the I'ukemii-o Company, and tho Blackball Company on the West Coast, had gone further and had ignored oven the local unions, and had tried to make bargains with individuals, and such conduct was bitterly resented, as the result c-f the ballot would iprovo. They said that the miners are more determined on this issue, and that there is greater unanimity in their ranks than ever before.

They are still hopeful that Cabinet will act courageously an-i rise to the occasion by compelling the representatives of the coal-owners to pursue a moro conciliatory policy.

They had absolute confidence in the justice of the federation's claim, and felt that, in tho interest of the general ooramunity, the case should be argued out, and not fought out.

In reply to a question,- Mr. Somplo said that he was not prepared to give the exact figures, but he would say that the result of the ballot in tho Buller and Grey districts is amazing, and a crushing reply to the coal-owners' statement that the federation had no authority to seek the increase asked for. Messrs O'Rourke and Semple will meet Mr. W. Parry (National secretary) in Wellington on Monday, and will do everything possiblo to avoid a crisis.

WORKERS' RESOLUTIONS MEETING AT DENNISTON. (Special to the Christchurch "Sun.") Otira, August 17. The resolutions carried by the Donniston Miners' Union, at its stop-work meetings, wore:— (1) This largely attended meeting of tho Denniston Miners' Union wishes to contradict the statement of the Coalowners' Association, in which they allege that tho. present demand for 20 per cent, increase in wages was initiated by a fow prominent officers of the Coalminers' Federal ion,, and that the said demand does not express tho desires of the rank and file. We desire to give full publicity to the fact that the present demand for n :!0 yn c-rrit:. inerensc was decided upon by ;i representative con--I'e.renco of the whole of ihi- affiliations of tho Miners' Federation, hold in Wellington in December last, and was the outcome of remits tabled by several of the unions represented, who have, since been urging tho federation officers to carry out the conference instructions. (2) The Denniston Miners' Union wishes to place on record the entire confi-

denco of the Coulminere' Federation olliccrs, and expresses iis appreciation of tho ablo and businessliko manner in which they havo prepared tho minors' case in support of the dvmaud for a 2fl per cent, increase. As practical men, wo know that our case is built on sound and just lines, and we demand that it receive consideration and respect. We also desire to contradict baseless statements that have been circulated to the effect that the federation officers are continually travelling tho country with tho qbicctof engineering strikes and industrial unrest among the coalminers. Wo wish it to bo clearly understood that tho constitution of tho Miners' Federation, together with |he federation officers, have prevented numbers of small spontaneous strikes,. and have thus saved the community from untold discomfort and misery, for which the federation officers deserve the respect of the whole of tho community and not tho censure- that is hurled at them by the capitalistic class. Mr. E. Semplc's meetings at Denniston oo Tuesday night and at Burnett's Faco on Wednesday night wero most successful and largely attended. MOTION OF UNITED FEDERATION ( . OP LABOUR, By Telegraph-Press Association Auckland, August 17. The executive of the United toleration of Labour passed a motion expressing the opinion that it is the duty of tho Government to insist that a conference regarding the coal dispute shall take place, and that tho Government has abundant powers to do this. A ballot was taken at the Kaitangata mines on 'Wednesday to determine whether tho minors would submit a demand for an additional 20 per cent, increase of wages. Tho proposal was carried by 180 votes to 17. , WORK ON THE WHARVES —i -9 ALIEW CHARGED UNDER THE WAR REGULATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, August 16. Julius Barth, a native of Bohemia, was fined J2O by Mr. W. Wilson, S.M., for a breach of the War Regulations covering work on wharves. Barth was nuturalised in Australia, --but not in the Dominion. He was therefore described as unnaturalised. After the regulations had been gazetted he applied for a permit to work on the wharf, but was refused. He was employed later by Messrs Horsley and Harris, merchants, as a carrier, and went to the wharf ehed for goods. Counsel contended that the wharf sited did not come within the meaning of tho War Regulations. This view was not taken by the Magistrate, who entered a conviction. Alfred Harris, a member of the firm, was charged with procuring Barth to work on the wharf. The information was dismissed.