THE MINING TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 8

THE MINING TROUBLE

MEN DECIDE TO FIGHT ON OWNERS INSIST UPON OBSERVANCE OF AGREEMENT From present appearances it would seem that the dispute at the Pukemiro coal mine will require further negotiation before a final settlement car. be effected., for Mr. J. Arbuckle (secretary of the MinefV Federation) said yesterday that it had been decided to fight on until the union obtained a satisfactory solution of its grievance. "The dispute now," added Mr. Arbuckle, "will in all probability be tnken out of the miners hands, and will be dealt with as a federation matter, and the settlement wnll have to come through the federation. In replv to Mr. Arbuckle's statement, Mr. W. Prvor (secretary of the Coal Mino Owners' Association) said that the agree ; ment made between the Mine Owners Association and Mr. P. Hally, in accordance with the authority given to Mr. Hally bv the union, would be insisted on'by "the Mine Owners' Association. , , , Asked yesterdav whether the leaders of the men were" to. blame for the various troubles in connection with the coal mines. Mr. Hnllv said he did not think the leaders were at fault. Very often a dispute arose out of sheer misunderstanding l«tween the mine officials and the miners of a particular mine, the miners would hastily hold a meeting among themselves, and down tools. Once out, it was difficult to get them to start aeain. "So,far as leaders are concerned," said Mr. Hally, "I am speaking of such men as Semple, Arbuckle, Webb, O'Brien, and others of the same character. To my certain knowledge these men have on'mnnv occasions gone their way to stop trouble taking place. As to' prospects of settlement, Mr. Hally said he believed the Pukemiro difficulty was duo to a complete misunderstanding on the part of the men. He understood that there was a goodl prospect that in a day or two this difficulty would be removed,-and then he ventured to say the men would return to work. Information was received locally yesterday that Messrs. J. O'Brien (>.orth Island representative on the executive of the 'Miners' Federation) and Curran (president of the Fukevniro Miners Union) had left Huntly for Wellington. It is understood that they are visiting Wellington in order to confer with the executive officers of the Miners Federation regarding the Pukemiro dispute.