NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 105, 28 January 1920, Page 8

NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT

ATTITUDE OF ALLIANCE OF LABOUR Tho Alliance of Labour, which represents transport workers and miners,, as well as some other unions, still persists that it has control of tho coal miners' dispute, and does not accept the proposal of tho mino owners that tho dispute should bo settled between the workers in the mines and tho companies, without the intervention of tho Alliance of Labour or any other body. Mr. James Roberts, secretary of tho Alliance of Labour, has sent tho following letter, tp Mr. W. FryjJr; 1 secretary of the Employers Federation:— "Dear Sir,—Your letter of January 21, forwarded to Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary, N.Z. Miners' Federation, stating that the cxeoutivo of tho N.Z. Coal Owners' Association had considered, and wero prepared to accept, some proposals which tho daily papers reported was carried by

I tho Huntly Miners' Union, lias bean handed to me, and placed before a meeting of the executivo of tho abovo association. . "In reply thereto I am instructed to inform you that tho coal miners' dispute is still in the hands of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, and that Iho executivo of that association call only repeat to you what has already been forwarded to tho Prime Minister on several occasions, viz., that there can bo no settlement of tho dispute until such tinio as n conference takes pace between tho representatives of tho Coal Owners' Association mid the representatives of the Alliance of Liibour and New Zealand aimers' Federation. Tho dispute to be settled on the basis of a national agreement, similar to that now operating in respect to waterside workers, Amalgamated Soeietv of Railway Servants, ami seamen, which agreements differentiate according to local conditions. therefore we can only reitente what is only a reasonable rcouest. viz.. a further conference, in order that an agreement ir.ny be arrived'at on the lines suggested. , "In conclusion. I would suggest, sir, that as this dispute is in the hands of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour it will facilitate negotiations considerably if you would- forward any furtbcT communications in connection with this matter to tho Secretary, /MMnee of Labour, 80 Manners Street, Wellington. Tho letter forwarded to Mr. Arbucxlo was as follows: "Referring to the reference in the dailv papers to a resolution piwed bv the Huntly Miners'/ Union, which I 'understand was expressed in <no following terms: 'That this union ask tho federation to withdraw from /ho Alliance 'of Labour, and that the unions be allowed to make •rgreements individuthe federation to have one reprcsontetivo at conference'; I am instructed to advise you that the execut've of this association has considered the Huntlv union's proposal, and is prepared to Kocept its terms as a means of settling the dispute. It is honed your executive will also accept tho Huntly proposal, and thus bring to an end the unfortunate deadlock which has continued for such a considerable length of time. Tho owners will probably review *no position at an early date.