THE COAL MINERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16849, 1 June 1920, Page 6

THE COAL MINERS.

STRIKE OF TAP.ATT7 MEN. (press association telegram.) DUXEDIX, May 31. In accordancc with notice given on Friday last, the miners working at the Taratu coal mines went on strike today. It appears that when the nnv agreement of three months ago came into operation, granting a 60 per cent, increase on pre-war rates, the .increase of threepence per ton, which was granted to the miners in 1913, was discontinued. A meeting of the men was held this evening, when it was decided to adhere to' their previous determination. It is understood that the strike i-s not too popular with some of the men. Two or three have already applied for work in the Ivaitangata mine, and will commence there to-morrow morning. Altogether 50 men are affected.

LOSS OF DAY'S OUTPUT IN TAUPIEI MINES. (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, May 31. • - The miners employed, by the Taupiri Coal Company who work at the Rntowaru mine, had another day off to-day, the reason given by the head office being that the men refused to wait for the train that conveys them daily to and from the milie, and which was half an hour late this morning. This train leaves Huntly every morning at 7. o'clock with the men for the Rotowaru and Pukemiro mines. This morning owing to a heavy fog at Iluntly in the night, considerable difficulty was experienced in getting up steam on the engine, and the train was i ot ready to leave until about ten minutes to eight. The result was that the Rotowaru men decided not to wait for the belated engine, and returned to their homes. About 60 of the Pukemiro miners also lvfused to wait for the train, and went home, father than .start work half an hour late. The action pf the Rotowaru miners means a loss of "00 tons cf coal, this being the average daily output of that. mine, while the loss of coal from the Pukemiro min-> for tho dnj will be in the vicinity of 200 tons, making si total loss in coal of approximately •500 tons on the output of the twe mines for the day.