THE ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 6

THE ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

REPLY TO MB, MASSEY'S LETTER. Following is a copy of a letter dated October 29. forwarded by the secretary of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour Oh , . J. Roberts) to the Prime Minister;— '■Sir,—Your letters of the lllth and 27th instant, in connection with the coal minin<: dispute were considered by my executive this morning) and in reply thereto I am directed to state that we regret that the suggestion made by tho Alliance of Labour, on several occasions, viz.. a conference between the parties concerned in tho coal mining dispute with a rcoresentative of the Government us chairman, has not ken acceptable to tho Coal Owners' Association, and that no (rood and sound reason has yet been (riven as to why this sensible method of adjusting tho "coal mining trouble has Won rejected by tho employers.

"With reference to your question as to whether the miners intend to accept the last offer mado by the coal mine owners. I thought that my letter of the Rtli instant made it very clear that the offer could not be accepted, and, further, the letter gave tho reasons why. Mv letter of that date also indicated that it was not the intention of (ho Coal Miners' Federation to file a dispute under tho 1011 Act. as it stated that we were prepared to accept nuy independent chairman, and negotiate immefliutcly, in actual practice, a hearing nndor the Disputes Investigation Act, but further wo are not prepared to go. You have not indicated why this reasonable prooosal has' been refused, therefore the executive of the Alliance of Labour, and tho general public, citnnot come to any other conclusion than that the Coal Owners' Association liavo refused to negotiate further with a view of an amicable settlement.

"I have to apologise (hat, owing to my absence from Wellington, and the fact of .nil the members , of the executive being engaged on other industrial matters, vour letter of the 16th inst. has not been replied to. Tn conclusion, I can assure you that tho executive of. the Alliance of Labour are most anxious that tho present coal mining difficulty should be setllotf, and have in every instance. I submit, adopted a sensible anil reasonable attitude in request ill!; you, as Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, to convene n conference of. the parlies concerned. Such a conference would, in our nvininn, be the means of obtainili2 more industrial certainty in the coal mining industry as well as bringing about an amicable settlement of the present deadlock.—Your faithfully. "(Sgti\) J. ROBERTS, "Secretary."