THE STATE MINERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1923, Page 3

THE STATE MINERS.

Il'■ Y TKI.EO 11A I'll—l'l.K PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON. Nov. 13 The framing oi a new award covering the Stale Coal .Mines, was the subject ot a letter recently forwarded to the .Minister of Minus, by the .Secretary of the Coal Miners' Federation (Mr R. O’Rourke).

"As the result of admissions made bv the coal owners regarding the inndcjtuicy and inin.-tice of the existing A r'dti nt ion Court awards for coal "line workers in New Zealand,” stated Mr O’Rourke, "and as the men at the .Stall' .Mines are working under exactly similar unjust conditions, am in-triieted by my Executive to in1 11 ire Dorn you. as head of the State and sub-State Mines, whether it is not possible to immediately scrap t lull ward now in existence I here. and arrange for a eonferelii e between 1 lie -Miners I* deration, the l,,eai uni,m. and the representatives ,:f y,,iir Department t,, di-cuss and arrange the werking eomlifions, and rates ol pay, at the mine-, and -o remuve iho irie■ton 11 1 al exi'ls, a : admitted by v,,llr'■■'l and the r- present aI i v,-- oj t| u . coal lllllle owners leeelltlv. Oliee injustice is admitted, no iisetnl pnrp,i-e can he served l,v perpetuating it. 1 ivl eonliileiil that yen will admit. Sir, "s the I'e-'ill ,j| your reeelii tour, and •he meeting you had with the various miners’ representatives that ihere is a t remem ten s amount ol renm lor impreyonienl all reiiniL"

The Minister (the lien d. G. Andor--o") ha- replied that he has ,m no oe- " admitted the existence ~f any mu at the State Mines. "This !,<•- In 2 he staled, "and as the working eondit ions at 'itch mines are the snlijoct of two industrial agreements, ''■j"ch were entered 1111 .. voluntarily by ii'- repre-eiilalive- of (he Stale .Miner-' Lnieii. I regret that I am unable see tuy way to give effect to your suggestion,”