THE DIRECTORS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 4

THE DIRECTORS.

TERMS IMPOSED

At Auckland on October 28 the directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., met to consider the position regarding the Huntly mines. After nearly four hours' deliberation, the directors came to a decision, the following official statement of which was given to a "Herald" reporter by the chairman (Mr. E. W. Alison) :—

"A statement has appeared to-day to the effect that it is the intention of the workers at Huntly to resume work. No official notification of such intention has been given to the company. Assuming, however, that such is the intention of the workers, the directors regard it as essential that the present position as between the company and the workers shall be defined and clearly understood. t*

"It will be remembered, in the notice published by the directors under date of October 8, and posted at the pit-head, that the difficulties likely to arise if the course then siiggested were adopted ytctg plainly indicated. "The action of the workers in refusing to resume work when the whistle was sounded on October 14 and following days has confirmed and emphasised their previous step, and serious consequences must needssarily follow, of which warning was given, viz., that the provisions of the existing award—by which both the company and the workers were bound —are suspended, and the hours of work, wages and other conditions of work for all workers under the award are left open to be fixed by agreement between the company and individual workers.

"This being the position, -the directors desire to state the conditions upon which individual workers, excepting those whose services have been dispensed with, will now be employed:— "(1) For the time being tho hours of work will be the same as those contained in the now suspended award.

"(2) The directors state definitely and clearly (a) that they arc prepared to enter into a new agreement between the company and a union duly registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act; (b) that they will not, under any circumstances, recognise or enter into any agreement with the Federation of Labor."

Mr. Fletcher, mine manager, was present at the directors' meeting, and ho was instructed to post notices to tho above effect at) the pit-head on his return to Huntly,