KAMO MINE STRIKE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 187, 9 August 1941, Page 8

KAMO MINE STRIKE

MANAGEMENT'S OFFER CONDITIONAL REINSTATEMENT (0.C.) WHANGAREI, this day. An offer to reinstate all men, including those under notice of dismissal, has been made by the management of the Kamo collieries, where work has been suspended since Thursday afternoon as a result of the miners coming out on strike following the dismissal of 32 men. The 32 men were given a fortnight's notice by the management on account of the shortage of places in the mine and the action of the miners in restricting the output of a section of the mine, the notice terminating yesterdav. The offer of the management is conditional on the working of three shifts, it being stated that there are not sufficient places in the mine for all the workers if only two shifts are worked. It is understood that union officials have recommended the miners to accept the terms to which the men, however, would not agree. The Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb, has communicated with both the companv and the union urging that an earlv settlement of the trouble should be effected so that coal production will not be retarded. It is believed that a conference will be held sometime to-day between the management and the miners. The mine manager, Mr. J. Makinson, stated that about a month ago the men restricted the output of a section of the mine by about 45 per cent. After notice of dismissal had been given to 32 of the men the output had increased to almost normal tonnage. i The output of the Kamo mine is from 1100 to 1200 tons of coal weekly, and, besides the 32 men I under notice of dismissal 70 others are affected by the strike.