GO-SLOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1921, Page 5

GO-SLOW.

STARTED BY MINERS, MOST OF MINES INVOLVED. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. (By Wire.—Our Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The coal dispute bears a more serious appearance to-day. The miners are going slow at nearly all the mines ■throughout New Zealand and the executive of the Coal-mine Owners’ Association has been summon'd to meet in Wellington. Mr. Massey has suggested the appointment of a. committee of two representatives from each side, but the miners have not waited for the consideration of this proposal. The mine owners contend that the dispute ought to be confined to the Blackball mine, where the alleged victimisation took place, and it is rumored that they may take a firm stand by refusing to employ men who are going slow.

STATEMENT FOR THE MEN. ADHERING TO THEIR ATTITUDE. Wellington, Last Night. Further developments were reported to-day in connection with the trouble at the mines, and several mines in the Dominion are being worked on the goslow principle. The dispute has now developed from a purely local one into a national matter. When approached to-day, Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary of the Coal-Miners’ Federation, stated that the federation was adhering to the attitude declared at the end of last week. The federation demanded that Henderson should be reinstated. Mr. Massey had suggested that a special tribunal should be set up to consider the case, but it remained to be seen whether the federation executive would approve of that proposal. Asked whether, as secretary of the federation, he had had any intimation as to how work was proceeding at thp mines throughout the Dominion, Mr. Arbuckle replied in the negative. The executive of the Coal-mine Owners’ Association will probably meet in Wellington shortly in order to discuss the matter.

TROUBLE IN THE SOUTH. LOCK-OUT AT KAITANGATA. Dunedin, Last Night. Another stop-work meeting was held at the Kaitanga-ta mine this morning at 7 o’clock. The result was practically the same as at the meeting held on the previous morning. The meeting finished at 7.30, when the management refused to allow the men to take their lamps, and the mine is consequently idle again to-day. The same men who worked yesterday went down the mine again to-day, and the unionists resent the attitude taken up by these men in not adhering to the strict principles of unionism. The management, on the other hand, is not willing to prevent these men from continuing work if they so desire. . The matter has now developed into a lock-out, and there seems no hope oi an early settlement. Another stop-work meeting has been arranged for to-morrow morning.. In the meantime steps are being taken to interview the men who are working, with the object of persuading them to join their fellow uftion'isty If this proves abortive it is difficult to say where the matter will end.