WAIKATO MINE STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26188, 11 August 1950, Page 8

WAIKATO MINE STRIKE

TALKS TODAY IN WELLINGTON SHORTAGE OF COAL FOR INDUSTRY (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. The national council of the United Mineworkers' Union will meet in Wellington to-morrow to discuss its next action in the Waikato colliery strike. Representatives of the Waikato mine managers and underground officials also left for Wellington by train tonight. If. as seems likely, both parties confer with the Minister of Mines and Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) or departmental heads, there may be a good chance of settling the strike. Coal production in the Waikato was again almost at a standstill to-day. All the main underground and open-cast mines were idle, and the only output by members of the Northern Miners’ Union was a limited supply for hospital use.

Hunlly itself was quiet. Few men were about the streets.

Huntly’s brick works, which are among the biggest in the Dominion, will stop production to-morrow because of the coal shortage. Coal is needed to make gas at the plant for heating the huge kiln. An official of the brick company said he had been able to secure only two fucks of coal sweepings for the works. This coal would be mixed with coke and used to keep the kiln hot. However, the supply would last only until Wednesday, and if the kiln coo ed off, the roof would probably collapse and major repairs lasting for wee ks would.be necessary. The works produce 135,000 bricks a week. The company’s building bricks are used throughout the North Island. The company is New Zealand’s biggest manufacturer of fire bricks, and sud- ? 1 . ieS J bo *£ the Nor th and South islands. The works normally use 100 tons of coal a week. There are 45 employees.