HUNTLY MINERS' STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 330, 23 January 1909, Page 2

HUNTLY MINERS' STRIKE.

MINISTER AT HUNTLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Friday. ■ The Hon. B. MoKenwe loft for Huntly this afternoon to endeavor to arrange an amicable settlement of the difficulty. He denies the Wellington statement that the Government was bringing < strong pressure to boar with a view to inducing the four miners to resign. He .< stated that the matter had not been discussed by the. CabinH in any shape | or form. i f | Huntly, Ust Xiglit. I q

Tiro only new feature in connection j a with the trouble at Huntly to-day is nn I n announcement by the Union executive that, contrary to expectations, they do not intend to call out the engine-driv-ers engaged hi keeping the water out of the mine. If the property is flooded, therefore, which is improbable, it will', be by the action of the company. Mr.., Manning, secretary, declares that the > men are not on strike, and that thevs- ( fore outside unions can legally help the'. i IWaikato Union. The latter are, he'' I 'says, merely men in distress, and would j \ be receiving the charity of' the other nnion9. General assistance from the i unions is promised by Messrs. Davis and • 'ljong, labor delegates from Auckland. 'lt is not thought that a settlement is at hand, despite the visit of the Minister 'for Mines to-nigkt. There is no disorder.

HON. K. McKENZIE AS MEDIATOR Huntly, Last Night. The Hon. E. McKenzie, Minister for ■Mines, arrived in Huntly to-night, and after a conference with the union executive, stated that he found the men very reasonable as to a proposal he put to them. If the directors of the com■pany 'were as reasonable a settlement of the dispute would be arrived at. The Minister would not divulge, the terms of ■his proposal, stating that it must first be submitted to both sides. It is understood, however, that it is proposed to set up a board of commissioners of two 'representatives of each side with an ■arbitrator, the men, to go to work pending the board's decision at once. Mr. McKenzie will be here again to-morrow afternoon, by which time both the nion and the company are expected to •have come to a, decision as to the Minister's proposal. ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT.. Auckland, Last Night. ■ An important development in connection with the mining dispute at Huntly ■took place to-day. During the past few Says, although no public mention has ibeen made of the matter, the company has been considering whether it was ■possible, to get the dispute settled by ■law. Legal advice was taken on the subject, and the directors, as a result, were advised that the proper course to ■pursue was to refer the matter to the ■new Council of Conciliation. The directors have accordingly decided to do this, and,the necessary application will be made to-morrow morning.