THE MINING CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 323, 14 January 1909, Page 2

THE MINING CRISIS.

.MINK OWNERS' ATTITUDE. Oy Telegraph.—Press Association. Aucklaiid, Tuesday. A telegram luis been sent to Sir JoM'pli Ward stating that at a nieeiiilg of mine-owners this moruing great anxiety was expressed owing to the dillieulty in reference to the mining trouble. The companies are still awaiting the decision of the Slate Accident Insurance Department l'e the issue of policies co\ L-ring miners' disease. Great loss is being daily sustained by | bolii companies and workers. The latter express themselves as desperate. 'J he meeting was unanimously of opin- | ion that, failing the issue of satisfactory covering policies, either a special session of Parliament should forthwith be con- 1 veiled or the men should submit to a 'medical examination. Mine-owners had no alternative but to keep mines closed until the dillieulty was satisfactorily settled, It was further resolved that representatives of all mining companies in the Auckland district should be sent to Wellington as soon as a date can lie arranged with the Premier.

POSITION AT THAMES. MEN'S DISSATISFACTION. Thames, Tuesday. There is 110 change in the local position regarding the mining trouble, except that the men are growing irritable at the delay.

!t is urged that the Government has guiranteed the State Insurance Department against loss, and that miners should be allowed to return to their work and the Premier's word taken as snllieient ollieial pronouncement to warrant the companies recommencing operations.

Both contractors and wages men have been refused admission to the mines, and legal opinion will be taken as to whether they have any redress. The Karangahake miners offered to come out in sympathy with the Crown mine workers, where the management declined to admit anyone without a medical examination. The Thames Union endorsed the action of the Karangahake miners.

A telegram explaining the position was forwarded to the Ministers of .Mines and Labor.

.MINERS' FEDERATION MANIFESTO. A NASTY*FEELING.

Reefton, Last Night. The executive of the Federation of Miners issued a manifesto this evening recapitulating the various headings air ready given, and closing with the re* mark that the demands of the insurance, companies are really for diminished risk for increased premium. They are annoyed at the outrageous demand being supported by the Government Insurance, Dept. There was 110 comparison what-, ever between medical examination insisted 011 by employers and that insti- ; tilted by the Government or the Westport Coal Co. Employers really wished to subject the worker to a medical test aiul employ him conditionally only on his being robbed of the beneJits of the Workers' Compensation Act. Matters are quiet on the surface A nasty feeling is gaining ground. The ,companies are being generally blamed; for the delay. They excuse themselves 011 account of the non-receipt of the insurance regulations.

The Caledonian I'nitcd mine issued a weekly report to-day, the iirst is-, sued this year. That and the Tributors 1 mines, the (lolclen fleece, are the only mines working.

DKXMST'V .MINERS' SCITOUT. Westport, Last Might. At a special general meeting of the De iiiiston .Miners' Union last night it was decided to support tlie gohlminers in their light against medical examination, linancially*and morally if uec-es-.

sary; also to comply with any mandate Ironi the executive of the New Zealand .Miners' Federation. It was also decided, to fake advantage of the Coal .Miners' Amended Act, l!)0S, and work eight hours from bank to bank on and after Saturday, 23rd iiist. )

Tllli PREMIER INTERVIEWED. Tiinaru, Last Night. The Premier arrived from Oamaru today. He had been very busy over the miners' troubles, lu reply to Mr. Free, representative of the mine owners at lieefton, he said that the tiovernmeut was in no way responsible for the mineowners not giving evidence on the Bill. Tin; omission of the objection by the owners led the (loverniuent to assume that they did not oppose clause in. As to the feared iullux from Australia, Sir Joseph Ward said he cannot so? that miners are under any obligation to employ them. The Premier is confident that .Mr. Five's opinio,l regarding t)r«, medical examination by the (loverniuent Officer to be the last word from the Onvernment was entirely wrong. Sir •LNoph Ward suvs he acted with great deliberation, and could Mr. Free see the whole correspondence he would be convinced of his error. The Premier added: "W hen T have helped to end the trouble, you are adopting the extraordinary, cour-e I,f endeavoring to obtain from me definite outlines of legislation before the matter is investigated, and f have gone as far as 1 mil prepared to go. When Parliament meets the whole matter will If gone into. If the owners, show pneiinionociosis is fatal to the best, interests of the industry, the law will' he amended. If, however, more string tfent protection against bogus claims" is required that protection will be given."