Reefton in London.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 78, 6 September 1912, Page 3

Reefton in London.

BRITISH INVESTORS' VIEWS

"TO HELL WITH AGREEMENTS!"

Speaking at the annual meetings of Consolidated, Blackwater, and Progress mines in Loudon, Sir Westby Percival, chairman, said the board was extremely sorry, in April last, at not being able to see its way to a declaration of the usual half-yearly dividend; this was main 1 y due to the fact that the company's operations for some months past had been seriously handicapped by labor troubles in New Zealand. He was pleased to say that the operations of the company during the year had been of a satisfactory nature, and had it not been for the labor disputes with which tho management had been continually harassed since last October they would have been even more satisfactory.

Mr. CutcliftV, on behalf of" the shareholders, commiserated with the manager of the mine in the labor trouble. It must be very disappointing, he said, to Mr. Evans to have his work checled all the way through by this cause. Tnat he had very great difficulties to contend with there was not the slightest doubt, because of THE SPIRIT WHICH WAS ABROAD 1\ NEW ZEALAND. The chairman had not said much about, it, perhaps for very good reasons; but the shareholders need not mince matters. IT WAS REPORTED IN THE PAPERS THAT ONE UNTON ACTUALLY WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY, " TO HELL WITH AGREEMENTS." That was a very beautiful spirit, no doubt, but at the samo time it opened up the question »f the contract system. He thought THEY SHOULD SUPPORT MR. EVANS IN REFUSING TO ALLOW THE CONTRACT SYSTEM UNDERGROUND TO BE GOT RID OF. It simply meant that instead of a man working for better pay up to his full capacity, the ability of the very worst miner in. the place became the standard. He sympathised with Mr. Evans, and hoped he would come through the troubles satisfactorily.

The Chairman (Sir Westby Percival) said it would be most gratifying to Mr. Evans to have intimated to him the expressions which Mr. Cutcliffe had made. It was most galling to a man like Mr. Evans that he should be hampered in the way he was. The board had the fullest confidence in his discretion ami tact, and hoped that the trouble would be brought to a speedy termination, which would be satisfactory both to the men and the shareholders. They wanted the men to work under proper conditions and receive full pay for their labor, but it was quite impossible that they could have them as masters and interfering with the work of the mineThe best of the men did not want it. He had every hope that with reason and common sense prevailing there would be a full settlement and lasting peace.—"Evening Post."