COAL MINERS’ TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1921, Page 3

COAL MINERS’ TROUBLE

QUKSTION OF VICTIMISATION. [I!Y TELEGRAPH —PER I’IIESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, January 14. In connection with the coal Mining trouble, at Blackball, the miners throughout New Zealand have, a. cording to the Federation Secretary, decided upon united action as from Monday next, as a protest against the alleged victimisation of two men by the Blackball Coal Company. The form which the united action will take is not stated, but H is not thought that the‘miners will s’op work altogether. This matter has been under discussion since November.

The dispute has now narrowed down to the two miners, Messrs Henderson and McLaggan. Mr McLaggan is the man who is referred to as having visited his invalided mother in England. Negotiations between the Federal-on, the Blackball Coal Company, and the Mine Owners’ Federation have lx on proceeding. Investigations have also been m.- i on behalf of the Government. No nisis has been reached. The Company have declined to rt instate Mr Henderson under any consideration, although it is willing to take Mr McLaggan hack. The Blackball miners have bter going slow since the dispute commenced. OWNERS’ ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON, January H To-day Mr Pryor, Secretary of tlie Coal Mine Owners’ Association, wrote to Mr John Arbuckle (Miners Federation Secretary), forwarding a co,.y of a letter from the Blackball Company, indicating that the Company are not willing to re-employ Mr Henderson. Mr Pryor’s letter proceeds: ‘T have referred the whole matter to the i'xecutive of this Association, tlie members of which unanimously support the Black Hill Company in the attn-ifo which it lias adopted. It must be- understood, however, 'hat McLaggan will not be re-employed until a definite arrangement is made tint the ‘go-slow’ policy now in operation at the Blackball mines shall cease.

BLACKBALL COMPANY’S LETTER Bi its lot-tor the Blackball Company outers its protest against the unnecessary introduction of the ‘go-slow’ policy into this matter, and it demands an immediate cessation of tho same methods in further action of any fort arising out of this incident. In reference to Henderson, the Company alleges that lie was admittedly guilty of foul and filthy language towards one of the. company’s staff. Consequently, the Company states ‘that ii cannot reinstate him on any condition ” MINERS’ STATEMENT.. i WELLINGTON, January 14. In the course of a statement made to a reporter to-day, Mr J. Arbuekle (Secretary of the Miners’ Federation) said: “I wish to again place More the public positon which has been created by the Blackball Goal Company, in victimising two members of the Blackball Union, Henderson and MeLaggan. These men are good miners, and clean living men, and the Union lias tried all the means in its power to settle the dispute and have these men ' reinstated. The Company lias refused to reinstate the men, and so the ea*-e 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 send the Undefr-Secretary of Mines down to Blackball and so obtain a full report on the matter. This was done, and a report is now in tlie minds of Mr Massey. He has full particulars from each side, and the report m» st say which side is right aud which is wrung. The public have a right to know the full facts, and these can be given, if the report of the Under-Sec-retalry is made public. It is only a fair request to ask (hat tlie report be published at once. The Company now agrees to reinstate McLaggan, but not Henderson. The miners feel that they have taKen every possible means of settling this dispute, and, having failed, they v ill take united action until the victimised men are reinstated. “The Miners’ Union and the Federation will fight to the last ditch against such deliberate and vindictive victimisation as that shown in tbe case of tl* p two Blackball men “We deny that Henderson was guilty of foul and filthy language, and we defy the Company to prove this charge against him,