A DEADLOCK

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 8

A DEADLOCK

COAL MINERS AND OWNERS DISPUTE OVER DISTRICT AGREEMENT USE OF FORKS RESENTED By Telegraph —Press Association. Greymouth, October 28 Following a deadlock at the conference of coal miners and owners’ representatives, the former have decided that it is advisable for the Federation to issue a manifesto to all members, and that the president should visit all the North Island and southern unions in order that the position may he effectively dealt with. It was also decided that the president, Mr. Davidson, should place the position before the Alliance of of Labour, and that the federation sec-retafl-y notify the) Australiaai Miners’ Federation of the position, with a view to getting support should the necessity arise.

The deadlock arose over the question of whether the first agreement entered into should be for Southland or for the West Coast mines. Following on the miners’ request for enforcing the existing national agreement at the Alataura, Alount Linton, and Wairaki mines, the miners asked that the agreement be enforced at Alataura as against a reduction in the rates, and at the other two mines as against the use of forks. The owners’ representatives contended the district agreements permitted forks while in the case of Alataura they stated that company did not belong to the owners’ association.

After an adjournment the owners’ secretary, Mr. Bishop, suggested that the miners’ president and himself should proceed to Southland to try and adjust tho disputes there, and take the Southland agreements first. Th? miners’ president replied agreeing to the suggestion, except that the Federation insisted that the West Coast agreement should be the first one entered into. The owners’ secretary then intimated that * deadlock had been reached.