"MINERS' COMPLAINT."
ATTITUDE OF MINERS' FEDERATION.
SERIOUS TROUBLE EXPECTED
By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 21. The Miners' Federation Executive' which has been in conference in Wellington discussing the "miners' complaint" question, has concluded its sitting. The Executive endorsed the action of the Inangahui Miners' Union to strenously resist any attempt made for the medical examination of miners.
The Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Labour) has been in communication with the Reefton mine owners, and received a telegram yesterday declining to accept any compromise whatever in the matter. The Reefton miners met on Thursday evening to consider the position. Ssrioua trouble is expected after January Ist, "'hen, according to the terms set forth, no miners will be allowed into the mines unless armed with a doctor's certificate showing that they are free from "miners' complaint," or that they have signed an agreement undertaking not to claim compensation on this account. The Miners' Federation expects that the men will remain firms to their previous resolution. There are about nine thousand miners employed throughout the Dominion, and of this number six thousand are under the control of the Miners' Federation. The remainder, although they have not yet affiliated, are said to be in sympathy with the objects of the Federation.
The present situation is scarcely governed by the strike clauses of the Arbitration Act, because in this instance the men will not refuse to work, but will not be accepted by the owners unless they comply with the conditions. The case will, therefore, it is argued, be of the nature of a lock-out. The Miners' Federation has considered the contingency of financial assistance being rendered to those men who will find themselves out of employment. In doing this the Federation holds that it would not be "aiding and abetting" under the provisions of the Act, for no strike would exist.
At present the trouble only affects Reefton, but it may spread to other mining centres.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19081222.2.14
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3076, 22 December 1908, Page 5
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323"MINERS' COMPLAINT." Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3076, 22 December 1908, Page 5
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