THE OTAGO COAL MINERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10688, 15 July 1912, Page 5

THE OTAGO COAL MINERS

OPPOSED TO LABOUR FEDERATION.

REFUSE TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION.

(By Teityro.ph — Press Assoebiticn.)

KAITAN.GATA, Last Night.

One hnndirtd and forty-three members of the Otago Coal-minert' Union (affiliated to tire Federation of Labour) met privately on Saturday evening to consider the action of the Uni'GMf ill iv.iew ct the decision of the directors of the New Zealand Coal and Oiil .Company not to recognise ■it. ' ' Messrs Sermple and Howard, of the executive of the Federaf , were present, and 'addressed the men.

Drastic action had been threatened if recognition was ixt extended, but fSbe meeting showed no disposition to take this cbuwse.

Mr iSem.p'ic said that t'li-cr© was no use in .declaring a strike iKile&'s. the (men were absolutely solid.

The meeting finally pa-rsed a resolution, inviting the rival Arbitration Union to a trial of strength liy a s-eeret Iballot, the (registers of each Union to be impounded, and only members alllowed to vote. Thiis course is almost certain to be refused (by the ai'b&tratiioni«'trs. In the past week they gained forty memtbers, and expect more. a, vote »w,oiild also exclude 'independent memIbovis, wftose 'seutimenit, if anything, is 'against the Federation .and the trouble. .

Saturday's meeting apparently acconip'lklico nothing, beyond revealing a set cif -tile tide locally againist drastic action.

Conferences : are ,prace':cP:ng betwee'n •tQie management and the .Arbitration ■Unions on the reference submitted, with a view to an agreement being arrived at.