THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 246, 7 March 1913, Page 8

THE HUNTLY DISPUTE.

A PASSAGK AT AHMS. •Wellington. Last Night. This afternoon a deputation from the minors at Huntiy waited on the Minister for Labor and asked for an enquiry into I the recent formation of the new Huntly Minors' Union, and the alleged victimisation of the men who had been concerned in the labor troubles in that district. It was contended by the deputation that the new union v/as brought into existence illegally, ii.nl thai the Registrar had not complied with the Arbitration Act. Mr. Fulton, one of the speakers, asserted that when the secretary of the new union applied for registration of its rules, they were hack in the hands of the secretary the day the union was registered. "'Now." lie said, "there has been some, speedy work. We hold documentary evidence that you. as Minister of Labor, were pushing the matter through." Mr. Massey: Kindly produce it. Mr. Fulton; I can produce it now. You were pushing the matter through. Mr. Massey: Do you mean I was pushing it through improperly or unfairly? Mr. Fulton: You were pushing it Mi rough? Mr. Massey: Answer my question. Mr. Fulton: Yes, I say improperly. Mr. Massey: The statement is contrary to fact. Mr. Fulton: T shall produce the evidence. Mr. Massey: You must accept my statement. If you don't, I refuse to hear you further. Mr. Fulton read a telegram from one 'Walsh, which said that he had received a wire from Mr. Massey, the Prime Minister, that the application had been received and that he was pushing it through. Mr. Massey: That is not very wise. I don't accept that a< a copy of anything I forwarded. After a free discussion Mr. Massey said that the new union had been registered absolutely in accordance with the Arbitration Act. Mr. \ewtoit, the labor agent at Auckland, had been instructed to visit Huntly and report on tlie circumstances. He intended to administer the law as he found it.