MINERS' STRIKES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1917, Page 4

MINERS' STRIKES.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S VIEWS. . By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Opotiki, April 5. The Hon. Mr. Herdman arrived here last night. Interviewed concerning tha arrests of prominent officials of tha Miners' Union, Mr. Herdman aaidt, "These prosecutions have been commenced after careful investigation by tha police into the methods adopted by tha men connected with the coal-mining Industry on the West Coast of the South Island and in the Waikato district. Tha proceedings are being taken under tha war regulations, relating to seditious, strikes made, on February 10 of the present year. These regulations made it an offence for persona to combine, to in terfere with the production of such ft commodity as coal. At the present tima I must decline to say anything further as the matter will come before tha magistrate for investigation in du« course.'' REPEAL OF CONSCRIPTION ACT DEMANDED. , Greymoutty April 5. A mass meeting at Ruianga yesterday; passed the following resolution:—"We,' members of the Point Elizabeth and Liverpool Staite Colleries' Industrial Union of Workers, enter a protest against the Conscription Act by cessation 01 work, and demand the immediate repeal of the said Act. MILLERTON AND STOCKTON G> OUT. DENNISTON DECLINES. Weßtport, Last- Night, Meetings of miners were held at Dent niston, Millerton and Stockton, when Millerton and Stockton decided to strike, but Denniston declined. " THE STRIKE SPREADING. Westport, Last Night. All the mines in the Buller district have been idle to-day. In -Denniston it was decided to continue work, but on learning to-day the decision of the Milierton and Stockholm miners, the men held a mass meeting and decided not to resume work. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. {From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, April 4. 1 here is practically no information re« garding the coal raining trouble to ba gleaned in official circles. It Appear* that Ministers have not yet received definite information regarding the inten. tions of the men who are reported to have stopped work in the mining disi tricts. One gathers that the stoppage on the West Coast is regarded by Ministers as a very serious matter indeed, and that machinery at the disposal ot the Government has already been set m motion with the object of checking the trouble. But the outcome cannot bo foretold. There seems to be still some hope that the organised miners will not proceed to the length of a general strike A LONG AND BITTER STRUGGLE, MINERS WILL RESUME IF GOVERNMENT TAKES MINES OVER (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. Your correspondent had a talk with Mr P. C. Webb, member lor Grew to-night. Mr. Webb says tha outlook could scarcely be more serious, for it looks as if there is going to be a long and bitter struggle. This could have been avoided had prudent counsel prevailed. The bottom of Hie trouble is the feeling of disappointment among tho miners at not receiving more con* federation from the mine owners. Tha shipping employees and wharf laborers Imd had their wages and conditions improved to cope with the heavy increase In the cost of everything, but the mini ers were "as they were." Again, the miners were chagrined at the way in which small farmers had been sent into camp froir their districts, whilst liberal exemptions were made in the case of farmers in other districts. The arrest of the executive of the union was the culi mination. These men had dono good service in the past by restraining the miners from striking, especially at the tima of the arrest of Semple, when they we're keen to "go out." The strike could be ended at once bv the Government taking over the coal nunes. The men were anxious to h,>lp their country, but not the coal mine owners, from whom they consider they have not had a "fair deal." The Govern* ment had therefore tho mattor in tlieit own hands.

The above may bo taken as the view point of the miners and th'.'ir leadcri, but now fn earth they can justify their "go slow" attitude and t lion to strike at ft time when the country W in dire need of coal is beyond understanding. If they want to help lose tlie war, they an going the right way to work. The situation in Wellington is bad. The electrical works, which depend upon coal for the production of current foi lighting and traimvaj's, have only a few Weeks' supplies on hand. The gasworks are on a better wicket. The Gov. eminent railways have good stocks, fop the management have been anticipating trouble for many months, whilst there are SOOO to <SOOO tons of foreign coal available for the troopships. Coal la difficult to purchase, most, of the depots shutting down on anything but very small orders. The Attorney-General will probably, # j.l^ lo * aw course the ca«4 of the mine leaders now under arrest,