THREAT OF OSTRACISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 6

THREAT OF OSTRACISM

DISSIDENT MINERS RETURN HOME UNION PRESSURE TOO STRONG Special to the Daily Times GREYMOUTH, Nov. 25. There was a most unusual twist to-day to the beer boycott dispute, which rendered idle the Wallsend and Dobson mines yesterday, but •on this occasion both of the men involved in admittedly drinking 7d beers returned home and the miners and other employees at both mines went to work. It is not definitely known what transpired when the two men reported for work this morning, and allegations of intimidation by word and even by force could not be confirmed, though both men, when interviewed, gave the impression that the situation had been made “pretty hot for them.” Both men were addressed by union officials at meetings at the bath houses this morning, and following the meetings both men decided to return home. Though the Dobson employee stated this afternoon that he intends to report again for work, the Wallsend miner indicated that he would not be going back. It is understood that on the return of the Dobson mine employee to Greymouth he took legal advice.

The man concerned at Wallsend has been a mine employee for over 20 years and knows no other trade. He is a miner and believed to be a competent worker. The. other man has been employed at Dobson as a trucker only for the past six weeks Allegations that the Licensed Victuallers’ Association is behind the attitude of both men were stated to have been made at both meetings today, and the statement is said to have been made at Dobson that the trucker concerned was “ planted ” by a “foreign organisation," but both men indignantly deny such allegations. It is stated that the “ prosecutor ” at the Dobson mine was not the president of the union, Mr A. Hoggarth, but a former president, Mr W. Purdy. In this case the men agreed to work the mine subject to conditions which have been described as “preposterous.” It is stated that when the two men involved in the dispute boarded the train at Greymouth the other miners seated in the carriage immediately left it, and the two men were subjected to insulting remarks. There was also an obvious air of coolness about their reception when they reached the mines. It was plainly indicated to the men at the mines that no other member of the union would speak or work with the men concerned, that each would have to be given a place in the mine where he would not be associated with any of the others, and that he must be taken into and from the mine on a special conveyance—the other men would not travel in the same conveyance.