THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 136, 26 October 1912, Page 5

THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

ANOTHER DISTURBANCE. Bj Td«graph— Frtm AM<*iatioa Auckland, Yesterday. Messrs. Webb and Semple, representing the executive of the Federation, arrived in Huntly this morning, and were met by a crowd at the railway station. Mr. Semple, in a speech, admitted the extreme gravity of the situation generally, but hoped an honorable settlement would be arrived at. In the meantime the Federation was 'being unjustly assailed by the employers and workers, and an action for heavy damages for libel was being taken against the Federation by those concerned in the efforts to form scab unions. The seriousness of the position was the excuse for the Federation executive not having met the men sooner, but he assured them they had no foar of meeting them. He and Mr. Webb would meet the miners' executive in conference to-day, and a report of their deliberations would be given to a meeting to-morrow. He felt sure the men would admit an honest endeavor was being made to settle the trouble in an honorable way. At the conclusion of his speech Mr. Semple was cheered.

It is reported from Huntly that the probable result of the conference of the Federation with the Miners' Union executive will be that the Taupiri Coal Company will be asked to reinstate the dismissed executive and resume work on the footing previously existing. Failing this the union will call out the engine drivers and declare a state of strike at Huntly, at the same time calling out the coal miners throughout the Dominion.

The Star reporter on the spat expresses the opinion that less drastic pror posals will be made.