COAL MINERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17317, 1 December 1921, Page 6

COAL MINERS.

TROUBLE IN OTAGO. REFUSAL TO WORK UNDER NEW AWAED. (SPECIAL TO "TSE PRESS.") DI'NEDIN, November 30. This afternoon the miners at the Taratu (Kaitangata), Shag Point, and Jubilee (Christie Bros., Green Island) coalpits Landed in their notice to the eoalowners that they would not work under the new sward, and that work would cease as from to-day. A general meeting of miners was held at Kaitangata this evening, when the new award was discussed, and the men decided by a five to one majority to accep- the altered conditions and reduced wages, and continue to work. The owners, apparently, are not seriously concerned over the men's action, and a long strike is not anticipated. With summer weather and large stocks of coal in every distributing centre, and with the spectre of unemployment stalking abroad, the chances are all against the strikers Coal merchants in the city have large stocks on hand, and no anxiety is felt. The huge factories are also well supplied, and the Railway Department ha-j an immense stock. It is not known what attitude the Waronui miners intend to take up, but the mine will, it is expected, be working as usual to-morrow. An approximate estimate of the number of men involved in the strike is: —Taratu 85, Green Island 50, Shag Point 20. NO TBOUBLE ANTICIPATED IN SOUTHLAND. (sr-ECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") INVERCARGILL, November 30. Enquiries made by a. "Times" reporter show that there is little likelihood of trouble in the Southland mines over the introduction of the new award. Tiie position is that there is a superabundance of miners in the province, many of whom are able to put in only a few days' work a week. Some of the most important mines in the western district are being worked by nonunionists, and employers have practically all agreed not to introduce the new award until the set rate agreements under which some of the mines are being worked, expire within the next :Wicek or two. "Work is too scarce for the men to make any fuss," was the opinion of one owner in close touch with events.