COAL MINERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1921, Page 1

COAL MINERS.

OWNERS’ OFFENSIVE. [BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, August 11 Correspondence continues to pass between the Mine Owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation concerning the non-settlement of the mining dispute. There is no indication that the parties are getting any closei together. The latest letter from Mr T. O. Bishop, acting-secretary of the Mine-Owners’ Association, to Mr Arlmckle, of the Miners’ Federation, explains itself. It is as follows: “ Dear Sir.—l wish to acknowledge your letter of the 4th instant, and desire to clear up what appears to be a. misunderstanding on your part of the coal mine-owners in seeking to make logical agreement#. “ You say there can be only one reason for the present attitude of this association, and that is the separation of the different unions, and the bursting up of the federation se that the unions may be defeated singly, and old conditions, which were a disgrace to the coal-owners, may be again enforced This is not, however, at all a fair presentation of the case. “ The Miners’ Federation has been in existence for some ten or twelve years, and the experiment of a national agreement- was not tried till a- little more than a- year ago. Tf the federation existed for all tbose years, and presumably fulfilled the purpose of the miners in the absence of a national agreement, wherein lies the danger to the existence of the federation in reverting l-o the system of making local agreements? “The coal companies are convinced, by past experience, that the only practical method of making arrangements is to make them locally at each mine or district after discussion by the representatives of those who will subsequently have to carry them out, and they are not'prepared to allow their agreements to he made for them in any other way, even Ly the Coal Mine-Owners’ Association. “ The association is not seeking to interfere with the internal affairs of your federation, nr the relationship between, your organisation and the several unions, nor are they seeking to revert to any old conditions that were unsatisfactory.

“ You say that a meeting between the presidents and secretaries of our organisations would he fruitless, as the miners at their recent conference decided to stand or fall by the national agreement, but, as you have all along boon acting under a misunderstanding of the owners’ objects, it- is quite possible that such a meeting might not be fruitless, and I therefore repeat the invitation to your president and yourself, and trust thWfc you will accept it.” Mr Arbueklo repeats the Federaation’s requests for a conference between the representatives of the Owners and the Federation for the purpose of making a now National Agreement. Mr Arbueklo says that the miners are averse to entering into the local agreements that are suggested by the owners.