The Reefton Settlement

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 90, 6 December 1912, Page 4

The Reefton Settlement

The Reefton lock-out lasted sis mouths and onded on November IS in what may reasonably be termed a victory for the Miners' Union. Like all settlements arrived at in conference, the Reefton one was something of a compromise, bub nominally it was a victory for the men. Whether it shall bo actually h> depends upon the men themselves, for the. principle of co-operative contracting demands thorough combination nnd savee on the part of all concerned.

As far as the cause of the lock-out goes, the men returned to work with tho single-handed "popper" proposition defeated entirely. Two men must now work the drill in question. As far as the thing behind the cause of tho lock-out goes, contracting in stopes is not abolished, but proprietary contract is, whilo co-operative contract wins the day. The union is tho only one which has ever gained in writing the recognition of co-operative contract. The conferonce was hung-up ten days on this question and in the end a compromise was reached. In the settlement union recognition was obtained, with the right of 14 days in which to reinstate all the lock-ed-out. The preference clause enables the union to make all tho mine workers members of the union. No unionist is to be asked to work with the few bosses who scabbed. All things considered, the settlement is entirely satisfactory and reflects great credit upon Messrs. Fagan and Dowgray, tho men entrusted to represent the Federation of Labor in the work. It has to be remembered that a bogus union was in course of formation in the latter days of the lock-out, and that if a settlement had not been effected the trouble would have been compulsorily settled before Judge Sim right away.

The locked-out men put up a great fight, of which anon.