NEARING A STOPPAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 24, 28 January 1921, Page 5

NEARING A STOPPAGE.

DRASTIC STEPS PROBABLE IN COAX MINE DISPUTE. THE PREMIER'S PROBLEM Until both parties to the Blackball | mine dispute agree, or find that they , cannot agree at all. upon a chairman j for the committee which tbe Prime j ' Minister has suggested should be set up i to endeavour to bring about an agree- : ment as to the alleged victimisation of ! an employee, no fresh development in tiie I ] situation is expected in coal mining , circles in Auckland. The return of Mr. '.Massey to Wellington, it is hoped, may: have an influence on breaking the' deadlock. Meanwhile, there are indications of j : growing irritation on both sides, and it I ;is said that prospects of an amicable , [ arrangement are daily growing dimmer. I Some of tile mine owners favour a i [ drastic solution of the difficulty by j shutting down the coal mines altogether' 1 as tiie preferable course to an indefinite ' I ccntinuar.ee of the "go-slow" policy, tin i the other hand, the miners themselves ' are said to be losing patience, and desire j to bring matters to a head by stopping | work altogether. It is not unlikely that I 'another week will bring matters to a! . ' head i ne way or the other. [ The hope for tbe coal consumer, who ; will lie the chief sufferer, appears to lie largely in what the Premier may be able I t<> do in the nex_ few days. — — |

POSITION AT KAITANGATA.

- FEDERATION" TO TAKE NEXT STEP.I r ißy Tele-rraph—Press Association.i ]' DCXEDIX, this day. n The position at Kaitanirata is un- .! changed. Six men Who refused to attend stop -work meetings are still working. r an-.i the ot-hers are remaning idle. Tiie whole matter has now been referred by s t.*.e union "to the federation, who will take the next step.