THE OTIRA DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 28 August 1909, Page 5

THE OTIRA DISPUTE.

EFFORTS AT CONCILIATION. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. , By Telegraph.—Press Association. J Christchurch, Last Night. The Otira tunnel dispute advanced * further stage to-day j and hopes are now entertained that a settlement will be effected shortly. ■Messrs Betts and Fagaa .representing the executive of the Inangnhua Mincrts Union, arrived this morning, and had an informal conference wpth Mr. P. Halley (Conciliation Commissioner) and Mr. W. H. Hagger (Labor Agent). The delegates hnvtr power to conduct negotiations and effect a settlement ol the dispute. It has been determined that conciliation will he confined entirely to the questions of lamps and short shifts, the other matters to be reserved for future consideration. The men's grievances were fully discussed with Mr. Halley, who is confident that a settlement will be effected and is hopeful that work will be resumed on Monday. A conference will be held when Mr. Murdoch McLean arrives. Mr. Halley expresses his warm approval of the excellent behaviour of the men. ME. McLEAN OX THE SITUATION. Mr: Murdoch McLean, who arrived in town from Wellington this morniag, was interviewed to-day with a view to ascertaining whether there were any lurther developments in connection with the Otira trouble, Mr. McLean replied that his Wellington interview had placed his side of the case as clearly as it Was possible to do 130 and practica ly covered the whole of the ground. "The whole point at issue." said Mr. McLean, "is 'who are to be bosses, we or the men! During all the years we. have been employers of labor we have hitherto not had the slightest semblance of a btrike, the reason being that we have trade it an economic principle to pay our men more liberally than prevailing rates. This practice we find is best :~i the long run, and has always obviated any suggestion of serious labor trouble, with the exception of the present contract." Mr. McLean continued that it was an absurd contention that the dispute should be referred to the Conciliation Commissioner, as the award was in force, and if a breach of that award had been committed why could not the men bring the matter before the Arbitration Court? As regards the "bai:Kto bank" clause, Mr. McLean expressed the opinion that it was ridiculous to contend that it should be generally introduced. It only referred to miners, very iew of whom were employed at Ctira, and there was no more reason for it to apply to the whole of the men than there was for it to apply to any contract whatever. "If the men want to work only seven hours on Saturdays end Mondays," said Mr. McLean, "they can do so, but it'cannot be expected that we are going to pay them for eight hours." Speaking of Bealey and the tunnel, Mr. McLean stated the in dustrtel wheels there were running very smoothly. As regards a telegram from Greymouth to the effect that the executive of the Inangahua Miners' Union contradicted the statement that the men at Bealey were working under conditions that the contractors were endenToring to enforce at Otira, Mr. McLean filar;the contradiction as "absolutely false." In conclusion, Mr. McLean remarked that had they to dell with the men alone he felt satisfied there would !>e no further friction, but it was the union lenders who were toe l"-il cause of the trouble. Sir. McLean le ivi* far Otira to-morrow, and is hopeful t'n-t a settlement of the dispute will be arrived at.