THE COAL MINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 5

THE COAL MINES.

FAR-REACHING DEVELOPMENTS, SEEKING SEPARATE AGREEMENTS. UNIONS TO IGNORE THE COURT. By T«leffraph Press Association Wellington, Last Night. Important developments are likely to arise in the coal mining industry, as the result of a decision which has been reached by the corferenco of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, at present sitting in Wellington. A few days ago it was reported that the coal owners had cited various Miners’ Unions to appear before the Arbitration Court, the idea being to secure a local agreement with unions instead of entering into a fresh national agreement with the Miners’ Federation. Practically al! the Coalminers’ Unions in the Domnuou bad been cited by the owners, and the matter has been discussed by the delegates to the federation’s conference, which passed the following resolution unanimously: “That this conference now decides that turner no consideration whatever will the Arbitration Court be recognised.*’ It is believed if the coal owners carry the matter into the Arbitration Court the Court will have to make awards in the absence of *presentatives of the miners, who are most likely to ignore the citation notices. A pressman was informed that notwithstanding the attitude taken up by the Miners’ Federation, the coal owners intended to take several disputes created with local unions into the Arbitration Court for decision. The Court could make awards in the absence of the miners’ representatives, and the men would have to work under them. Should they refuse to do so, and unions cancelled their registration under the Arbitration Act, ti e awards of the Court would continue to operate in the various districts concerned. The owners have taken advantage of the legal machinery available for the settlement of industrial disputes, and if the miners choose to flout the law or any awards of the Court, the responsibility for any consequential developments would rest on their own shoulders.