MINERS DIRECTED TO STOP WORK

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 6

MINERS DIRECTED TO STOP WORK

Action By National Council

REPEAL OF EMERGENCY REGULATIONSSOUGHT

(New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, March 4. All branches of the United Mineworkers of New Zealand have been directed by their national council to stop work in a demand for the repeal of the emergency regulations. The Grey district miners* central committee decided at a special meeting yesterday td implement this direction. The direction given to the branches affects the co-operative mines which come under the council of the United Mineworkers. The Grey district miners’ central committee has instructed miners not to shift coal whether at the bins or in waggons, or on the wharves, without the sanction of a special committee which has been set up to deal with the emergency and urgent matters needing consideration. , The secretary of the committee (Mr R. Ross) said hospitals would receive coal Asked about the attitude of the miners to the bins at the Blackball mine, the coal of which is liable to spontaneous combustion, Mr Ross said the special committee would deal with this matter and if any danger of fire arose the union would be instructed to empty the bins. I The Runanga State Miners’ Union meeting to-day gave permission to the Strongman mine management to call upon union members to empty bins at the Strongman mine, in which coal has heated to such an extent as to endanger the bins. A large meeting unanimously resolved to adopt the recommendation of the national council and carry out the directions of the Grey central committee. The meeting considered press reports that watersiders are engaging in other work, and the meeting considered that if the reports were correct the action of those watersiders was to be condemned.