THE MINERS’ DEMANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1921, Page 5

THE MINERS’ DEMANDS.

OWNERS REFUSE CONFERENCE. INSISTED ON BY THE MEN. By Telegraoh.—Press Association. Wellington, Lfst Night. Claims for a new agreement covering the mining industry of New Zealand were recently received by the Mine Owners* Association from the Miners’ Federation, which sought a conference for their consideration. The employers resolved that they could not agree to meet the federation’s representatives until certain demands were withdrawn, and this decision was communicated to the federation and discussed at a meeting of the executive some days ago. Mr. Arbuckle to-day forwarded a letter tq Mr. Pryor (secretary of the Coalmine Owners’ Association). Mr. Arbubkle contends that, the agreement having expired, the federation is justified iq submitting fresh proposals for a new one and he says: “If the Owners’ Association insists on the withdrawal of the proposals there must certainly be a fight for the right to have a conference to discuss the proposals, which were adopted by the whole of the miners’ unions. Seeing that your organisation is delaying the bringing about of a new agreement by refusing a conference, we must insist that any agreement arrived at must date back to the end of February, 1921.”