MINERS’ FEDERARION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1923, Page 1

MINERS’ FEDERARION

THE COMING CONFERENCE. [by TELEGRAPH —rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May 29. A proposal to “end the Court's rule” is contained in a circular to unions issued by Mr P. O'Rourke, secretary of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, who states that the Dominion conference, to he held in Wellington on July 4th., to discuss fhe question of organisation, will be one of the most important held in the history of the federation.

Tho circular states:—“There can bo no room for two opinions regarding the need for sound organisation along tho lines of industry with a class basis. The idea of craft unionist or district organisation operating for tho taking over of the industry and managing it for the benefit of all tho people in New Zealand, instead of at present for the private enrichment of a few persons at the expense of many, will, I am sure, ho agreed to by all the militants in our ranks as being the only course possible to pursue that will oiler any resistance to tho fierce onslaught of our enemies, tht coal-owners and exploiters, who as the days go by and the competition for markets gets keener will he compelled to squeeze the workers harder and harder and reduce their standards of living to the same level as that of the older countries or go out of business.

“Then there is immediate necessary work to he performed in considering plans for the breaking away from the unfortunate predicament we now find ourselves in, namely the operations of the Arbitration Court, and the establishment of the right of discussion of our own wages and working conditions. In the face of the treatment that has: been served out to you and all the workers in New Zealand this last 18mouths, we cannot he too eager to end the Courts’ rule.”