TROUBLE AT THE MINES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 8

TROUBLE AT THE MINES

“UNITED ACTION” FROM .MONDAY | ALLEGED VICTIMISATION AT ! BLACKBALL STATEMENTS BY BOTH SIDES “United action” by tbo miners of New Zealand as a protest against the alleged victimisation of two men by the . ball Coal Company is threatened by the Miners’ Federation. The miners’ secretary (Mr. J. Arbuckle) states that the I action referred to will commence on Monday next, but he does not explain whether i "united’ action” means a general go-slow or a general strike. The views of tho employers and the employees, respectively, concerning the cases of the two men over whom the present trouble' has arisen are set forth in x correspondence disclosed to. the Press by Mr. W. Pryor (secretary of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association), and in a statement issued by Mr. Arbuckle. Mr. Pryor yesterday wrote to Mr. Arbuckle as follows: —■ I enclose herewith tho copy of a , letter received from the secretary of Blackball Coal Co., Ltd., with regard to the above’ matter. In the' letter it is indicated that the company is willing to re-employ M'Laggan, but will not to re-instate Henderson. I have referred the whole matter to the executive of this association, the members of which unani- , mously support the Blackball Company in the attitude it has adopted. It must be understood, however, that M'Laggan will not bo re-employed until definite arrangement is ,made that the go-slow policy now in operation at tho Blackball mines shall . cease. The Backball Company’s letter, enclosed by Mr. Pryor in-his communication to Mr. Arbuckle, read as follows: Referring to yours of 7th instant re M'Laggan and Henderson “goslow” strike. Tho case of M'Laggan has been considered by the Blackball Coal Company. His visit to England was undertaken voluntarily by him, without notice to the management of ■ hin intention to return, and after an absence of 14 months he claims to be taken back as miner by right. To this claim the company objects, and it cannot be admitted that in any such case the company is called upon to surrender its right of free selection or that once a man has left the employ he has a right to re-employment. In this case, however, the assertion of M'Laggan that he left on a visit to his invalid mother with the implication that he did not intend the visit to sever his continued employment, is taken into consideration, and the company is willing to give him work, though without allowing his ease to form a precedent. The com-pany-'enters its protest against Jhe unnecessary introduction of the "goBlow” policy into this matter, and it demands an immediate cessation of the same, without further action of any sort arising out of this incident. Re Henderson.: This man having been guilty admittedly of foul language towards one of the company’s staff,’ the company cannot reinstate him on any condition. Mr. Arbuckle’s version of the position at Blackball was given to a reporter in the following terms:—“l wish to again place before the public the position which has been/created by the Blackball Coal Company in victimising two members of the Blackball Union, Henderson and M'Laggan. These men are good miners, ’ and clean-living men, and the union has tried all means in its power to settle •the dispute, and have the men reinstated. The company refused to reinstate the men, so the case was. handed over to the federation, which, in turn, placed the matter before the Coal Owners’ Association. The Coal Owners Association has endorsed the action of the Blackball Company, and the policy of victimisation. "On receiving the decision of the coal owners, rather than cause a breach that might involve the whole of New Zealand in industrial trouble, I, as secretary of the federation, approached the Prime Minister, and. placed the position, before him. Mr. Massey decided to eend the Under-Secretary for Mines down to Blackball, and ho obtain a full report on the matter. This was done, and the report is now in the hands of Mr. Massey. .He has the full particulars from each side, and the report must say which side is right and which side is wrong. The public have a right to know the full facts, and these can be given if the report of the Under-Secretary is made public. It is only a fair request to ask that the report bo published at once. "The company now agrees to reinstate M'La"gan, but not Henderson. The miners feel that they have taken every possible means of settling this dispute, and having failed they will take united 1 action on Monday next, and continue > 1 that action until the victimised men are reinstated. "The miners’ unions and federation will fight to the last ditch against victimisation, especially against such deliberate and vindictive victimisation as shown in tho case of the two Blackbal men. ... "We deny that Henderson was guilty of the language complained of, and we defy the company to prove this charge against him.” .