HIKURANGI MINE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1931, Page 7

HIKURANGI MINE

A CONFERENCE SECURED. (By Telegraph—Per Presi Association ) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. The Leader of the Labour Party has received a telegram this afternoon from Mr J. Latham, Secretary of the Hikurangi Miners’ Union, asking that lie should endeavour to arrange a conference between the Hikurangi Mine Coy. directors, the Wilson Cement Coy Colliery directors, the Government and the miners’ representatively with -a view to effecting a settlement of the Hikurangfii trouble. Similar wires were received by th Minister of Mines and the member for the district, Mr Rush worth. Mr Rushworth interviewed the Minister of Mines, and he arranged to leave for Hikurangi to-night. At Mr H. E. Holland’s request Messrs Semple and Parry, both of whom are practical miners, agreed to proceed to Hikurangi along with Mr Rushworth, for the purpose of endeavouring to get the parties together with a view -of bringing about a settlement Accordingly the two Labour members left by the Limited express tonight. At Auckland, together with Mr Rushworth, they will approach the Directors of both the mines , after which they will go out to Hikurangi.

After receiving Mr Latham’s wire, Mr Holland get into communication with the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Mines, who agreed that the Mines Inspector, Mr Barslay, should co-operate with the three M’s.P. Hon Mr Murdoch also got into communication with the Directors at Auckland with a view to facilitating a meeting between the directors and the miners with the result that Mr S. Reid, the Managing Director of Wilson’s Portland Cement Coy., and Mr L. J. Stevens, . Director of the Hikurangi Coal Comany ■ Have agreed to meet the three Members to-morrow morning.