COAL DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1933, Page 6

COAL DISPUTE

BEX OWN OFFERS SETTLEMENT

MR KIMBELL’S INVESTIGATION

AUCKLAND, April 22.

Mr A. 11. Ivimb: 11, Under Secretary fo,. Mines, h'U5 left for JTuntly without having yet arranged a jo-'nt conference of the various companies and workers. -He meets th (J miner s at Hnntly. He -has obtained a statement upon the facts from both sides, the representative.} of which met him frankly and courteously. He wi 1 report to the Minister of Alines imm.'diatelv upon the whole position. He said be made a strong plea to Toth parties to meet and use every possible mean? to compose their differences,, with the object of placing the industry upon ,a better basis by an orderly and well-planned effort to overcome the difficulties arising from the nrrket, which was contracting ■ instead of expanding. He Tad pointed out that if the present conflict continued, it would cause severe financial fosses to the companies, and might ultimately also cause misery and suffering by throwing a number of miners out- of employment.. t The latest development at the weekend was the making of an off by -the Renown Collieries Ltd., to withdraw >t.s notic-e to its men proposing the postponement- of twenty per cent, of their wages, provided that a, meeting w:;o called of the five com pi’’lies 'concerned, and that the Taupiri and Gifiti Afto n Companies revert to the s: lying prices that were previously in force.

Colone] Holgate president of the Dominion Coni iMino Owners’ Association. said that nothing had bean arranged -as yet. -