MINING TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 274, 12 August 1908, Page 8

MINING TROUBLE.

4 STRIKE OF TRUCKERS AT KAITANCATA. EXPECTED TO FIZZLE OTJT. (nr TELEGRAPH —PRESS 'ASSOCIATION.) Dunedln, August 11. A sonsation was caused at Kaitangata yesterday afternoon When it became known that the truckors at tlio Kaitangata mino had refused in a. body to truck. It appears 0110 of their number, Allen Whittaker, was "sacked" for leaving his place on Saturday without permission, and as the boys did not consider the management's explanation satisfactory, they refused to work until ho was reinstated. Tho trouble happened just as the afternoon shift had reached the pit bottom, arid wore about to start work, and as a eonsequence of the deadlock tho mine was then thrown idle for tho shift. The management considered that Whittaker was unsuitable and unable to do tho work, and gave that as the reason for his dismissal. The truckers, on the.other hand, contend that he can do the work equally as well as the average. Some confusion was caused down the mine as the Horse-drivers left tlieir horses where they stood and came out with the rest. Tho mine manager was prosent at a big meeting of truckers last night, at which tho situation was discussed. Tho manager said lie would not unreservedly reinstate Whittaker, but was willing to take his case into consideration if ho applied for work. After tho departure of the manager the truckers decided that unless Whittaker was reinstated they would not go back. The minors wbiifc on tho morning shift as usual to-day, and about eight truckers accompanied then. There is a general belief that the strike will fizzle out. ————— \