QUESTION OF COAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 22, 26 January 1921, Page 5

QUESTION OF COAL.

NO FINALITY YET. "GO SLOW 7, CONTINUES. The coal position nae not developed greatly. The "go slow" is still in operation, and negotiations with a view to settlement have not reached any definite stage. In f.ict, t(je Premier asserts that the present position is not so satisfactory as he could wish, and the feeling is general among coal men in Auckland that thera is considerable difliculty ahead of the committee of five proposed by Mr. Maesey to meet and have power to effect a settlement. This committee would comprise two miners, two owners, and an independent chairman, but it is anticipated that there will be seme friction between the two parties over the chairman, who must, of course, be approved of by both sides. It is reported that the iriners ha-v suggested Mr. P. Hally as a chairman. Tho agreement under which the eoalminers are working throughout New Zealand expires at the end of next m<.nth. The miners have not yet presented their n-.vw demands. It is anticipated that following the example of the Australian miners, they will claim a fiveday week. In the meantime, the Waikato mines are sending short deliveries, and local industries are not at. all happily placed in the matter of fuel. > The Kiripaka mine is still working, b:;t there is nt present no dnfir.it;information ac to its outtmt, or whether the negotiations of tiie liquidator (Col. VV. D. Holfrate) and tho men have been attended with any degree of success.

THE KIRIPAKA MINES. Colonel, W. Holgate. liquidator of the Northern Coal Company, returned from Whangarei, where he met the miners on Monday morning regarding the "go-slow policy. ,. Asked if there were any new developments in the matter, the colonel said that he was very incensed at what had appeared in the Press. He explained (hat negotiations are still pendiifg between the Kiripaka Miners' I'nion and himself. Until a definite settlement has been arrived at neither side wished anything published upon the matter. Pending -settlement of the negotiations nowproceeding work is proceeding at the Kiripaka mine.