HUNTLY EXTENDED MINE

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 12

HUNTLY EXTENDED MINE

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED. HIXTI.V. Friday. 1 While it is prematura 1., , nil k.. any definite staloineiu In ...mie.tion villi the; proposed closing of the Kxtended Mine. II j Is Interesting to know that the negotiations ! have been bolhk on for the past few weeks belween the llnnlly Chamber of Commerce Ihe .Miners' Union, the Tniiplri Company. I and Ministers of the Cronn. When the! matter tirst ramo up for consideration ' before the Chamber of Commerce it wus derided to make every effort to assist the I town anU Hie mining community in the' (llHiciiltie.s Mia I liinl arisen owini; to Hie ' slackness of the coal market. Sim-..- Ih.-u no stone has been left unturned in this endeavour. Lengthy .orrespond'-m c has passed lictn-een Iluntly .-iu<l Wclliiiutuu. and It is due largely to the chamber's effort* that the (Joverunient placed orders for steam foul which i-nuhled the mine 10 carry on 11s kniß us ii lias done. The only jarriiiK note in the proceedings resulted from the action of Mr. O'ltourke. secretary of the Miners' Federation, who, while acting as the representative of the Iluntly rulon, made certain representations to the ! Minister, which, i; is understood are not | supported by Ihe local union. Since the Wellington Conference the position Ims .slowly improved, mid tlierc i.i still hope that, in spite of definite statements to the I contrary, the mine may be kept working.

However, there still remaius much to lie done. nnU Ihe united efforts of nil parties are necessary to achieve success. The dlreetors Imvo flotinitoly st;itctl. in rpsponsp Io an Inquiry on that'head. that, a substantial Increase in the percentage of house coal which might turn the tide in favour of continued n-orkiug. This is .1 matter which <:in b<- looked into by the men themselves, and, If I hey decide to help their own cause in this direction. It is expected that both the company and tlie Government will back tip their efforts..