THE RUMOURED STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 6

THE RUMOURED STRIKE.

} STATEMENTS GENERALLY DISCREDITED.

No speoial importance is attached locally to tho statement telegraphed from Wangamii that thero is every prospect of a strike of coalmmers ou a large scab taking place in tho near futu.'e. Wauganui cried "wolf" in this way once beforo, when no wolf camo, and neither Government, mine managers, nor other parties are disposed to heed tho second cry. ,

fho Hon A. W. Hogg, Minister for Labour, told a Dominion representative yesterday that he had received no information of a threatened strike, and believed that the Waneanui statements wero mere hear-say. Ho thought that there- had been no trouble m the mining industry since the question of compensation for pneumoconiosis was to the foro.

Tho Mines Department has no reason to think that a striko is intended. It is pointed out that the present time, when early legislation is in prospect, and tho closing down of part of the West-port Company's mine has caused a diminution of employment, is a most unlikely period'for such action. Mine managers rjenerally discredit tho story. It is admitted that agitators are at work, and that thero is liablo to be unrest among the miners, as in other industries at tho present time, but no particular reasons arc known why a strike should bo expected. One manager stated that the Wanganui message was correct in saying that the mineowners wore alivo to the position—that was always so—but as to the statement that they were taking combined action to meet tho threaten id emergency he had heard nothing of such action.

From inquiries among unionists it apppars that some dissatisfaction exists at Blackball regarding a-reduction of 2d. in the hewing rate, ordered by tho Arbitration Court last November. The suggestion of a strike, however, is generally decried. ' NO TROUBLE IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT. (BI TELEGRAPH—rttF.S? ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, March 24. Regarding the Press Association message from Wanganui, published to-day, to the effect that there was every prospect of a strike of coal-miners on the West Coast of the South Island, there is no trouble of the kind brewing in the Auckland district so far as mine-owners are aware, inquiries maclo amongst representatives of various coal-mining companies, elicited tho information that everything is working satisfactorily in this district. Tho report from Wanganui, moreover, is looked upon as probably being somewhat exaggerated. Thero are, at all events, no symptoms of trouble in the Auckland coal-mining districts, and it is not thought probablo that tho strike predicted iu J 1 , 6 if it decurs, will spread to the North.

VIEWS OF LABOUR MEN. (by telegeaph—press association.* Creymouth, March 24. beveral prominent Labour men were interviewed to-day in regard to the telegram from \\ anganui predicting a striko, and they state they are unaware of any movement. Tliey look upon such a statement as a joke, as matters on the Coast at present are satisfactory, iheer is no agitation for a strike.