THE COAL CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1921, Page 1

THE COAL CRISIS

SERIOUS DEVELOPAIENT.S

BY TELEGRAPH—CRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

WELLINGTON, January 18.

The Kaitangata miners held a stopwork meeting yesterday, in support of the Blackball miners’ efforts to have the victimisation of Henderson lifted. The mine owners locked out the Kaitangata men to-day. They are holding another stop-work meeting to-morrow The Miners’ Federation is solidly behind the Kaitangata men. Serious trouble is inevitable unless there is an early settlement. It is expected that a conference will be held to-morrow. An early and satisfactory settlement is expected. All unions have complied with the Executive’s request.

TROUBLE NOW NATIONAL

WELLINGTON. January 18

Further developments were reported yesterday in connection with the trouble at the coal miners. Several mines in the Dominion are being worked on the go-slow principle, and the dispute has now developed from a pure ly local one into a national matter. When, approached yesterday Mr J. Arbucklc, secretary of-the Coal Miners Federation stated that the Federation was adhering to the attitude it declared at the end of last week. The. Federation demanded that Hendeirson should be reinstated. Air Massey had suggested that a special tribunal should lie set up to consider this case, but it remained to be seen whether the Federation Executive would approve of that proposal. Asked whether, as Secretary of the Federation, ho had had any intimation as to bow work was proceeding at the mines throughout the Dominion, Air Arbucklc replied in the negative The Federation Executive and the Coal Aline Owners' Executive will probably met in Wellington shortly in order to discuss matters.

THE KAITANGATA LOCK-OUT.

DUNEDIN, January 17

Another stop work meeting was held at the Kaitangata this morning at 7 o’clock- The result was practically the same as the meeting held the previous morning. The meeting finished at 7.39 when the management refused to take their lamps, and the mine is consequently idle again. To-day the same men who worked yesterday went down the mine again. The Unionists resent the attitude taken up by these men in not adiTering to the strict principles of unionism. The management on the other hand ’s not willing to prevent these men from continuing work if they so desire. The matter lias now dev loped into n lock-out and there seems to be no hope of an early settlement. \ nouiif-r stop work, meeting has been arranged for to-morrow morning. In the meantime, steps are being taken to interview the men who are working «ith the object of persuading them to join their fellow unionists." If this proves to be abortive it is difficult to say where the matter will end. It is now purely a local trouble as the Blackball business lias been settled and the men at Blackball including the man about whom all trouble arose, are now working.