MINING DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17061, 4 February 1921, Page 6

MINING DISPUTE.

j PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT. I j (press association telegram.) I WELLINGTON, February 3. j Beth sides having- coniirnied tlhe arrangement proposed by the Prime Minister, the way is now clear for setting up 'r. special committee— Messrs G. ld:iotr (chairman), R. Scmple, and J. Bishop—to enquire into tho dismissal and alleged victimisation of Henderson by the Blackball Coal Company. formal operations will be resumed at all the mines. The. decision of the committee shall be final, and binding upon all tOie parties. STATEMENT FROM FEDERATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, February 3. It has been ascertained that the Kiripaka Mine, which was closed a day or two ago, owing to the "go slow" policy decided upon by tho miners, has been re-opened, and that full time is being worked in the mine. No definite date has yet been fixed for the sitting of. the committee appointed to go into the dispute. It is said that, unless some assuraifj* _ is forthcoming from the men respecting the trouble through the dismissal of the South Island miner, that the "go slow" policy is to bo abandoned, and that the output from the mine reaches normal proportions, it is unlikely that the committee will be called together. Tho secretary of the Miners' Federation, in nn interview, stated that tho Prime Minister had the facts of the case placed before him. Any statement on tho subject would be made by the '"Government. Personally, ho ;bolieved that the trouble was over. _ "Regarding the southern _ miners, where the difficulty arose witfi the management, he was confident that the matter would be left in the hands of the Federation to adjust, lie was not in a position to spiak authoritatively on the subject, l|ut he had no reason to doubt that such would be the case. "GO-SLOW" ABANDONED. (press association telegrams.) AUCKLAND, February 3. The Pulcemiro coal miners have abandoned the. go-slow policy and resumed i the normal output. It is understood that- tile Tauoiri mine employees have acted similarly, though definite infori mation is not available. GREYMOUTH, February 3. In conformitv with the Miners' Federation's direction to the State Miners' Union, that in keeping with the ballot result normal working at ,the mines should be resumed, tho restriction of output operating lately was to-day lifted at the State collieries. EFFECT ON CEMENT SUPPLIES. (press association telegram.) ■ WELLINGTON, February 3. During the negotiations between the Miners' Federation and the Coal-mine Owners' Association, the continuance of the "go-slow" policy adopted by the miners would, it was pointed out, have a very serious effect cn the production of cement throughout New Zealand, and that would have materially interfered with' house-building ana other important construction work now proceeding in the Dominion. It represented that the closing down of the Kiripaka mine would have affected the production of cement in the North Island, as, Wilson's cement works derived practically all their coal from that source. Had tlie "go-slow" policy been continued indefinitely, tlie production of cement must therefore have been considerably reduced, while if the mine had been closed it was more than probable that the cement works would have been compelled to close down. Much the same.position-existed in the South Island, where the Milburn Lime and Cement Company would have been similarly affected by the continuation of the "go-slow" policy in the Ivaitangato. mine. Details of the position were laid before the Miners' Federation, the Coalmine Owners' Association, the Prime Minister, the Coal Control Committee', and the Board of Trade, and as a result of the negotiations, which were conducted to-day, it is understood that the normal production is now to continue, and tliat the increased production of cement may therefore be looked forward • to, so that an impetus will be given to the house-building,and many other important constructional works throughout the Dominion. SOUTHERN MINERS RETURN. THE LABOUR SHORTAGE. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") ' DUNEDIN, February 3. o The "go-slow" policy was abandoned at the Taratu mine to-day, and work is now proceeding in earnest. Mr Arbuckle, who is at Ivaitangata, has beenadvised that; with the exception of the State mine, the other unions had decided to return 'to work on the understanding that the Blackball and Kaitangata troubles would be inquired into by a special tribunal appointed by the Prime Minister. The local executive met .the management this morning, but the result is not known yet. There is a suspicion that: tho management will not take all the men back, but wish to cut out some. A meeting of the men is to be held to-night. "Work is almost sure tb be resumed to-morrow. As a result of the marked scarcity of- labour, accentuated' by the "goslow" • tactics recently resorted to, the output of the West Coast mines has been very considerably diminished. In consequence there is practically no New Zealand bituminous ooal available in the Dominion. Stocks are quite run out, and such small* quantities as have been got out lately have been snapped up eagerly for immediate use. That is the position which made it necessary for the Government to import large supplies of coal from Newcastle and other parts of the world, including 10,000 tons of "Welsh coal. It is considered doubtful whether these large importations can be done without until such time as a much better supply of labour is available for the mines of the I Dominion. Dunedin is favoured above the other centres in the matter of coal. It is able to draw upon excellent supplies of soft coal, which, while not answering Jill industrial requirements, are nevertheless sufficient to satisfy domestio needs. The supplies from the Green Island, Shag Pojnt, and other nearby mines are now Helped by coal from a number of small pits, some near Kaitangata, others in the Nightcaps and othqr districts. All sorts of new coals are coming in in varying quantities.