Miners To Seek Support Of F.O.L.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 28

Miners To Seek Support Of F.O.L.

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, October 21. Miners at the Liverpool and Strongman mines are to seek the support of the Federation of Labour about the dispute which has made both mines idle.

Two mass meetings were held on Tuesday and two more today. Afterwards a lengthy statement was issued by the president of the Runanga State Mines Union (Mr R. H. Mitchell).

Shortly after the Liverpool No. 3 mine commenced production the management wisely introduced water in places to allay the dust This helped to keep the mine as safe and healthy as possible, he said. Safety now became a secondary factor and the management wanted to decide when and where water would be used. The Coal Mines Council ruled on a simitar dispute in March. It severely criticised the management for the type of spray which was being used and directed that a suitable spray be provided. The direction was ignored by the management and from a spraying point of view the position was worse now because the miners had only an open-ended hose with which to spray the coal, Mr Mitchell said. Dust was not only an explosion danger. Its inhalation caused a severe health menace—a fact which was recognised by health organisations. On Monday, without consultations with, or notification to, the union, the management cut the water off from the miners’ places, he said.