AUCKLAND COAL TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 139, 8 March 1929, Page 10

AUCKLAND COAL TROUBLE

TWO LARGE MINES IDLE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 7. As already reported, the men employed by Wilson’s Portland Cement Companv at Wilson’s Colliery at Hlkurangi failed to turn up to work yesterday morning and brought the mine' to a standstill. The dispute has arisen over the taking of two men off the coal face and replacing them by shift men, and the men have taken exception to this action. The strike creates a curious position, as both large coal mines in the district are now idle. The Hlkurangi Coal Company’s mine is at present flooded, and although pumping operations, are being carried out, the mine is not being worked. There are now over 200 men out of work owing to the flooding of the Hikurangi Company’s mine and about 170 miners are idle at Wilson’s Colliery. As almost the entire population of Hikurangi is connected with these two mines the daily work is almost wholly suspended in the community and the position unless remedied is sure to become acute.

Latest advices, are that satisfactory progress is being made with the unwatering of the Hikurangi Coal Company’s mine, which was suddenly flooded three weeks ago. Two 6-inch pumps have been Installed and these have reduced the level of. the water by 3ft. In 24 hours. The total depth of the shaft is 105 ft. '