"A FOOLISH ACT"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 6

"A FOOLISH ACT"

MIXERS FIXED FOR STRIKING.

By Telegraph-Prces Association.

Dunedin, January 19. Before Mr. B. D. Moscly. S.M.. at Knilangala, 10-day, 56 miners from the Taratu mine were charged with a breach of the Taratu Coal Miners Award, by creating a strike through iibsent.ng tlxsmwlves from work. The charges were laid bv the Inspector of Awards who claimed a penalty of .£5 from each de, "riie" facts were that a dispute arose between the. company and a mjner named Robertson. Robertson left the mine the men resented this, and a deputation waited on the manager and told him plainly that unless Robertson were reinstated thoy would not go back to work. The manager said he would not take back the man, who had admitted himself that be was in the wrong. The. men bold a stop-work meeting, and by n majority of .17 to G passed a resolution that they would not resume work until Rdbortsoii was reinstated. After negotiations, the. manager *a : d: Ts tins a strike?" The president said les. Ihe men staved awav from work on Monday (Labour' Day), held a meeting ni liies<lnv and told the manager that they would return to work the following day, which they did. . In giving his decis-on, the Magistrate said the strike had been a foolish act. The Court mu°t hold the officers of the union to be primarly responsible, and differentiation would be made between their penalties and those of the other '"irJino of .£X with costs 12s. Gn\, was imposed on Ralph Harrison, president of the uiron.and .Tames Thompson, secretary. Viftv others were fined X 2, with 7s costs each, one was fined .El and costs, and the case against two others was dismissed.