HITCH AT MAITLAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 7

HITCH AT MAITLAND

COLLIERIES IDLE THERE. The president of the Coal and Bhalo Employees’ Federation (Mr Baddelev) stated yesterday that, with the exception of all the collieries jn the MaiG land district and ft couple of other® ip the south and west, there was no trouble in the coal miners signing ofl this morning, “On the Maitland field/' Said Mr Bftddeley, “a hitfh arose over the mine managers refusing ta recognise officers of some of the lodges. Trouble algo occur, red over th® principle of th® last to go in being tha first to com® out/’ Tha Maitland collieries were the biggest in the State, and feeling was very keen there in regard to the question of victimisation. The council qf the federation, Mr Baddeioy added, would sit- in Sydney to-morrow and consider the position, “SPIRIT OP CONCILIATION,” The secretary of the federation (Mr AYillifO stated last night that so far aa the officials could glean most of th® mines had commenced work that day, “If the aam® spirit of conciliation, he said, “is shown by the Government! malingers at the mines & th®. Government expect® I’rom us, the mining industry should be normal at an early date. It is to be feared that certain of the managers will use the present circumstance® to give vent to their petty spleen against individuals. IVe, however, expect the Government to deal with matters of this kind.”-

MINERS BACK SOME PITS STILL IDLE. WATERSIDE MEN CITED. SYDNEY, October 4. A resumption of work in tho coalmining industry was announced yestorday, though in some instances hitches occurred. At Maitland mines trouble arose ores the question of recognition of union officers and the union principle “lash in. first out." In other cases victimisation was alleged. Union officials stated that the council of their federation would meet to-mor-row to deal with grievances. The Steamship Owners' Association has informed the seamen that there is ho necessity for a conference in. regard bo a resumption. They will be taken on when work is available. ' A transport workers’ official stated yesterday that other Government-con-trolled vessels are expected from Queensland. , _ , , The Waterside Workers Federation has been called upon to show cause why iffi registration should not ba cancelled.. MINES BUSY AGAIN SOME DIFFICULTIES. - OFFICIALS HOPEFUL. With soma exceptions there was a general resumption’ of work yesterday at the various collieries throughout th# Sbato. Officials of the men’s federation appeared hopeful* that any difficulties that had cropped up would shortly be overcome. It was stated last night that tho returns ip connection with the voting oj the northern lodges on the matter or resiiming work showed that 34 lodges had'decided bo “accept * the proposals, and. 13 had declined. The voting power or lodges was reckoned on the basis of onft vote for every 25 members or part thereof, and this gave a total of 209 lodgai votes to return to work and 133 against,, of a’ majority in the affirmative of 78.. Calculating from this it would mean that the deeisiop. represented 3225 individual votes for, and 1900 against.