THE MINERS' TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1920, Page 5

THE MINERS' TROUBLE.

MEN SUGGEST CONFERENCE. OTHERWISE "DRASTIC ACTION FOLLOWS. By Talegrnpli.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, lias forwarded the following letter to the Prime Minister:— "I have been instructed by the New Zealand Coal and Gold Miners' conference, now sitting in Wellington, to inform you that they make the following suggestions to you as a means of settling the present disputes in the different mines: ■ "(1) That you call a conference of four from each side, wifli yourself as chairman, and that the disputes be settled along the. lines followed at the drawing up of the national agreement. "(•2) That the conference be arranged before Monday, July 19. "1 am instructed to inform you ftiat, in the event of this method not being adapted, the whole of the miners in the Federation will take drastic action to force the same. If your duties at present are such that you cannot give the required time to this matter, we are prepared to accept Mr. Hally as chairman."

It is understood that the Federation is still firm in its original demand that Mr. Massey shall not have the power of decision. The letter has been referred bv telegraph to the members of the Mine Owners' Association.