MINERS' GRIEVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 305, 21 December 1908, Page 4

MINERS' GRIEVANCES.

SEIUOOS CONFLICT POSSIBLE. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, .Saturday. The New Zealand Miners' Federation executive held a special eont'erejice in Wellington to-day to consider the Reefton dispute concerning a miners' complaint. The Workers' Compensation Act, coining into force in January 1, places this complaint in the same category as accidents, with a consequent liability on the mine owners. One company at Reeftim has decided to arrange for the medical examination of all its workers, and those who are found to be sud'ering from any disease, or injury which does not incapacitate them from work will lie asked to sign an agree- I meiit in conformity with section f/ of ] the Act, agreeing .lot to claim compensation if at any future time they are incapacitated by any trouble existing on the date of their examination. The Federation, at a meeting at which representatives from Grcymoiith, Denniston, Inangaliua, Granity, and Waikato were present, strong resented the conditions imposed, and interviewed tlia Minister of Labor.

The Minister promised to give tile matter his earnest consideration. . Interviewed by a Times' representative, Mr. R. Temple (president) said the Miners' Union had unanimously resented the medical examination for the reason that there were many old hands who had worked in the mine for years, and if they underwent examination they would be found to be suffering from this complaint. Consequently they would be thrown out of employment and their homes sacrificed

if the companies' terms were not agreed to. Some of these men had contracted the disease in the mines in which they were now working. Moreover, it was not likely that the other mining companies would' take on rejects from Reefton, Thus they would soon have a large army of unemployed miners, who could not get work at their calling anywhere in the Dominion. "If," he added,' "these conditions arc enforced in Rcefton, the new year will see a very serious industrial conflict throughout the Dominion."