OTAGO MINING DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 200, 18 May 1908, Page 9

OTAGO MINING DISPUTE.

■; STILL UNSETTLED, : ■ ARE THE WORKINGS DANGEROUS? C'nv iEHiCtti.ru—ranis association.) i ' DunctJin, May '10,; •. With' TCgdud' to the .grievance of miners at Christio Brothers' No. 2 Saddle Hill, mine, the following tonus were proposed.by.'.Christie Brothers as a basis for settlement of tho dispute regarding the check, inspection'of'tho minesl'hu.t if it bo shown that tho'anino is unsafe, and proved that' Christie Brothers' wero wrong in refusing check inspectors peri mission to inspect tho. mines, . Christio Brothers to pay all, expenses* and wages of the men who. lost their work oil Friday." : . It was explained that if the employers lost ono or both of tho abovo issues, tbey had to pavtho wages as agredd above; * It ,is probable that Christio Brothers will bo prosecuted for alleged breach of tho Coal Mines Act. Christio Brothers have lodged with ' tho Labour Department a cheque for £11 6s. Sd., to'pay expenses incurred and wages of miners for Friday, providing it be shown that tho mino is unsafe, or if it .bo proved that Christie Brothers wero wrong in refusing tho check inspectors permission to inspect tho mine. As tho result of a conference between tho miners' representative aiul, tho mino ov.Tio.rs, it was decided, that tho cheek inspection would talco plaeo on Saturday afternoon. i, .

Mr. Green (Inspector of Mines) inspected No. 2 mine, ami found tltero was 110 dangerous accumulation 'of water 1 in the old workings, and 110 gas in the mine. Water which' had hecn tapped had been drained off, and there was no danger in the mine.

• RESULT OF TEE MEETING. ■ Duneclin, May 17. At a special meeting of. the Greon Island branch of the Otago Coal Miners' Union, held 011 Saturday night to discuss tho disput-o with Christie 'Brothers, Messrs. Forbes and Love, check inspcctorsi submittal a partial report .on their inspection of Christie Brothers' No. 2 mine 011 Saturday afternoon, and stated iliat thev wcro obliged to postpone the remainder of tho inspection owing to daylight failing and to tho condition of tho mine. "Air; Forbes made statements concerning' tho lack of' cScapo outlets and tho necessary fences across old workings. Ho considered the Government Inspector's report on tho u'.ino unsatisfactory. Tho check inspectors had arranged to meet Mr. Christie and complete their inspection at 1 p.m. to-day, but a protest was mado against the inspectors being ordered out to work on Sunday, and tho meeting deckled that tho inspectors meet Mr. Christ-io out of courtesy, hut that tho inspection be postponed till 'Monday. During tho. proceedings a teWram was read from Mr. Rogers, of tho" Blackball Miners' Union: "Wire financial position, and if'in neod of assistance." This was rcccivod with tumultuous applause.