MINERS STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23263, 25 February 1941, Page 8

MINERS STRIKE

MILLERTON UNION’S DECISION DISPUTE WITH COMPANY OVER CONCESSIONS [From Our Own Reporter,] WESTPORT, February 24. A strike was declared by the Millerton Miners’ Union at a meeting yesterday, as a result of the unwillingness of the Westport Coal Company to allow concessions for men employed in the “third west” section. In this section exceptionally high temperatures are caused by boiling water from spillways round the stoppings constructed in an endeavour to restrict the spread of the big fire which has been raging in this coalfield for many years. Water from the spillways at certain times, especially in bad weather, runs through into the mine and conditions are such that the men have demanded a six-hour shift when the temperature reaches 76 degrees; or that the section be closed up. It is considered by the men unfair that hewers and truckers should work a full shift under arduous conditions while others have no difficulties in sections more removed from the fire zone. All the men are united in the strike, however, and are definite in the attitude that some action should be taken by the company. If a- six-hour shift is worked, allowances for the time lost are being asked for. The matter is being taken up with the management and the Coal Mine Owners’ Association by Mr A. McLagan, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, and the men intend to stay on strike until the demands are acceded to.

The fire in the mine has eaten up thousands of tons of the best coal procurable in the Dominion, and all attempts to restrict its spread have been unsuccessful, including the method of brick walls and stoppings surrounded by water-fed spillways. The miners’ representatives claimed that temperatures at times in the section under dispute exceeded 80 degrees. The trouble was brought to a head when the truckers’ claim for concessions because of the heat was disallowed last week at a time when the temperature was high in some places where they were working, whereas miners in the face were not so seriously affected. “FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF IT” MINISTER HAS NO OFFICIAL ADVICE “This is the first I have heard of it.” the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) replied when the report of a strike at the Millerton mine was referred to him at 9.30 o’clock last night. The full report from the Westport correspondent of “The Press” was not available when Mr Webb, who was in Wellington, was telephoned from Christchurch. "I would be very surprised if there has been a strike,” he said. “The men may feel that the temperatures in the mine were too high and “ conditions were detrimental to their health and may have decided that they would not work in the place until conditions were ■improved.” The Minister denied a report that he intended making a visit this week to Millerton. He said that no official communication of a strike had reached him.