MEN REJECT OFFER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 266, 4 July 1932, Page 5

MEN REJECT OFFER

I ! (Special to "Post.")

ATTEMPT TO SECURE SUPPORT qf WEST COAST AND OTHER MINE| - FREE LABOUR "RUMOUR A message received from Huntly conveys' the information that the Waikato miners have by a yery large majdrity, rejected the agreej ment offered by the Mine Owners' j Association. This means that the ■ coal strike will continue anf tfie | men are hopeful of securing tfie J support of the miners in flikurangi j and tfie Coast, thus causing ■ a general stoppage in ajl the mam j mipes. It was rumoured in Huntly that the owners intended to make • an attempt to man the mines 'witfi i free lahour but a message from i Colonel Holgate failed to confirm i this. ' " c

HUNTLY, Saturday. ! The coal mining position took a serious turn to-day when the Waikato miners as a result of a ballof, decjded hy a big majority, to reject the agreement negotiated By ' their delegates with the owners a few days ago. j When Mr. T. Bougher, President .of the Northern Miners Union Mr. A. ; McLagan, National Miners' Presidi ent, and Mr. W. Davidson, Secretary ' of the Northern Union returned fo Huntly to-day, after attendirig. *a | meeting at. Pukemiro they announced •r the result of the" ballot, but so far the j official vqting* figures have noB.been ; disclosed. It is understood that a mass meeting of miners will be held early next . week. ! The result of the ballot is very serious news, and has c'aused consternatioii amongst local shopkeep_er§ and residents, who had been hoping that the miners would accept the owners' . terms. ! Already the works have been idle for a month, and the loss of- Business has been felt very keenly. It is understood that the "hire and fire" elause and the tonnage rate are the chief matters with which the miners are dissatisfied. The officials of the council are confident that the strike moyement will receive the support of "the men" at Hikurangi, and it is also believed that the West Coast miners, who are at present working urtder the old agreement, will come out in support of their Northern eomrades. "••• It is rumoured that if the men persist in the strike, the owners will make a movement to work the Huntly mine with free labour, but a message received from Auckland, stated that Colonel Holgate, President of ' the Coal Mine Owners' Association, who is at present at Whangarei, refused to make a statement' on "the subject, as no decision had yet been made hy the owners. Colonel Holgate is reported tq have expressed surprise at the f act that the miners had rejected the Owners' terms, as it was generally consideriad that these were particularly generpUs. Mr. McLagan has returned to "Wellington on his way to the -West Coast, and it is anticipated that he will make a statement in Wellington.