THE COAL MINERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 4

THE COAL MINERS

OPPOSITION TO LOCAL AGREEMENTS EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE Correspondence that has recently passed between the secretary of the Miners’ Federation (Mr. J. Arbuckle) and the secretary of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association was yesterday released for publication. On July 15 Mr. Arbuckle wrote as follows: — "I have been instructed to inform you that the Miners’ Federation are prepared to discuss a settlement of the present dispute in tho coal mining industry with your association, on the basis of the present national agreement, with a right to discuss hours of work. "If this is suitable to your association, we would be pleased to appoint representatives to meet you at the earliest possible date. “In reference to the action of your association in’tiling cases against individual unions in the Arbitration Court, we consider this a distinct breach of the-present national agreement, and at the annual conference of the miners’ delegates, just finished in Wellington, it was decided definitely that on no consideration would individual unions be prepared to enter into individual or district agreements, either through the Arbitration Court or otherwise.” The reply sent by the Coal Mine Owners’ Association, under date August 2, was couched in the following terms "In reply to your letter I am instructed to say that the several coal mining companies belonging to this association are not prepared to consider tho making of a new national agreement with your federation, and it does not therefore appear that any good result would be likely to arise out of a conference such as you suggest between the two organisations. This association regrets that your federation is so strongly opposed to the making of local agreements between the miners’ unions and their employers, cud I beg to suggest that the president and secretary of .your federation might meet the president of this association and myself to discuss the grounds of your opposition, with the object of ascertaining whether your opposition to local agreements cannot be overcome.” MR. ARBUCKLE RETIRES. The retirement of Mr. J. Arbuckle from the position of general secretary of the Miners’. Federation is announced. The candidates for tho position are Messrs W. Balderstone (Blackball), 1. H Grant (Millerton), J. O’Brien (HuntTv) F. O’Rourke (State mine),, W. (Pukemiro), and W. H. Smith (Rotowaru). A ballot is now proceeding among members of affiliated unions. Mr Krbuckle was only recently re-elected to the position.