THE MINING DIFFICULTY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4360, 14 January 1909, Page 2

THE MINING DIFFICULTY.

THE PRESENT POSITION. FEELING OF IRRITATION. KARANGAHAKE MINERS OFFER TO COME OUT. TELEGRAMS TO MINISTERS. ** In connection with the mining trouble we understand that the Hons. R. McKenzie (Minister for Mines) and Hogg (Ministtr for Labour) have been communicated with by the Thames Miners’ \lTnion, drawing the Ministers attention to the present position. It that now the State has guaranteed* the State insurance office against loss miners should be allowed to retnrn to wmHk, and that the published telegram of the .Premier should be accepted as a sufficiently official announcement to warrant the companies in recommencing operations. Locally both contractors and men are on wages, but who were not before Christmas, have been admission to the mines, Bthough the iH . conditions were not part of their contract, and the probabilities are the companies will be proceeded or asked to indemnify the men loss sustained. B The telegrams to the Minister fH Mines, we understand, dealt with tfl question of the manning of the variojfl properties by the companies who are r<fl fusing labour that has been offered and ■ offering, and that this is a breach of tlfl mining regulations. I The men are growing irritable, and ifl is hoped that the trouble will soon bfl ended. A very little thing will precipifl tate a crisis at the. present time, for vB learn that the whole of the Karan gahasfl miners offered to come out in a body ifl sympathy with the workers of the Crowj H where the management decline to adm ■ the men- without medical examinatioiH The Thames Union advised the Karaii ■ hake men to keep on working and nil precipitate matters, hoping that .tH difficulty would soon be settled. fl It is hoped that the mining oompai ifl will not dally too long, for it is dangeroifl to play with fire. fl

MINE OWNERS OBSTINATE. 1

1 MINES NOT TO START WORK. ' Auckland, January 12. The conference of coal mine owners and directors decided that nothing could* be done in regard to the acceptance of the Premier’s proposals until official information was obtained now that the. 1 State Accident Department would take the risks, together with the rates to be charged. The mines will not start work until this information is obtained. {lt was resolved to despatch a telegram to the Premier stating that the position is unchanged and suggesting [that the Government should arrange and agree to terms with" the Government Insurance Department x and submit same to the various companies interested. The telegram concluded, “ The position is serious and requires prompt action, otherwise sr serious loss will fall on the men and the companies, besides a loss and inconvenience to the public.”

POLICIES DECLINED.

’ HUNTLY MINERS DESPERATE. Auckland, January 12. The mine owners here stkte that up to the present the Government Accident Insurance Office jhas declined to issue policies coverjng risks against miners’ complaint. / In addition to the loss being sustauflj by local coal companies and ship own~B and the men at the mines, it is estimaj H that the loss to the Railway through suspension of coal the Whangacei lino is about £250 a wflfl whilst the less on the Waikato line S| great deal mere. Owing to the shortage of fuel the Portland Cement works at Limestone Island and Mahurangi have closed down, thus throwing 250 men out of employment. A telegram from the Waikato Miners’ Union at Hunfly, which has been received by tho Taupiri Coal Company, states that tHe men are desperate, and that there will be no guarantee of forbearance after to-night. About 20,000 tons of coal is due tej arrive at Auckland from Newcastle apd‘ Westport during the next few days. This will be sufficient to meet requirements for about a fortnight'. Wellington, January 12. Mr Skerrett, K.C., has given his opinion to the Employers’ Federation on the mining dispute. He says that Section 10 is extremely difficult to construe, but it is hard to see how medical ex-, animation can be dispensed with not only, now but every 12 months, inasmuch asj they are only liable lif the disease is contracted within 12 mouths previous to disablement. ; <

Dunedin, January 12

The coal min 3 owners and employees in Otago are marking time, and appear to be content to await development in Other parts. The Owners’ Association has postponed the conference, and decided to watch operations without taking any action which might precipitate a worse tangle. The workers at present are very discontented.