IMPENDING MINERS' STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 306, 22 December 1908, Page 2

IMPENDING MINERS' STRIKE

UVJiK XUJS " JUAJiIW COMPLAINT " yUJiSTiON. 1)000 AUiJf I'KOBAJJLY AFFECTED. tiy I'elegtaph.~i're::s Association. Wellington, Last xNight. The Miners' FeUeraiiun executive, which has been in conference in Wellington discussing the "minora' complaint' question, lias concluded its sitting. The executive endorsed tlie action of the iuaugaluia -Miners' Union to strenuously resist any aitumpt made for the inedical examination oi miners , Tile Hon. J. A. Millar, .Minister for Labor, has been in communication with the Keefton mine owners, and received a telegram yesterday declining to accept any compromise whatever in the matter. The Keefton miners mot on Thursday evening to consider the position. Serious trouble is expected after January Ist when, according to the terms set forth, no miners will be allowed into the mines unless armed with a doctor's certificate showing that they are free from "niiiiers 1 complaint," or that they have signed an agreement undertaking not to claim compensation 071 this ac-1 count. The Miners' Fedehitiou 'expects that the men will remain firm to their pre vioua resolution. Xhere are about UUOO miners employed throughout the Dominion, and of this Slumber 0000 are under the control of the Miners' Federation. Ihe leuiainder, although they have not affiliated, are said to be in sympathy with the objects of the Federation. The present situation is scarcely governed by the strike clauses of the Arbitration Act because in this instance the men will "not refuse work but will not be accepted by the owners unless they comply with the conditions. The case will, therefore, it is argued, Ik: more in the nature of a lock-out. The Miners' Federation has considered the contingency of financial assistance being rendered to those men who will find themselves out of employment. Jll doing this the Federation hold that it would not lie "aiding and abetting' under the provisions of the Act, for 110 strike would exist. At present the trouble only ati'octs Keefton, lint it may spread to other mining centres.