MINE CLOSES DOWN

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 102, 24 January 1933, Page 10

MINE CLOSES DOWN

Deadlock Reached Over Hire-Fire Clause

SOUTHLAND COLLIERY By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Jau. 23. The latest development in the Ohai coal strike is that to the list of mines which have been idle since August 17 last, namely, Linton, Warakei, Mossbank, and Black Diamond, is flow added the name of Black Lion. This mine, which closed down on Friday as the result of the failure of owner and men to come to a settlement, did not reopen this morning. The miners worked last week under notice to see if some agreement could be reached, but a conference with the owner, Mr. Peter McSkimming, on Wednesday proved a fruitless one. He is stated to have refused to engage the men under the old conditions, and the miners lodged an objection to the “hire and fire” clause, under the provisions of which the mine manager is given the undisputed right to engage or dismiss the men at his own discretion. This clause has been the cause of the trouble at other mines, the contention of the men being that it should be struck out and that provision should be made for sharing the work.

It is also understood that the owner of the Black Lion mine proposed a reduction of 6d a ton in the amount of coal hewn, this reducing the rate from 5/4 to 4/10 for solid w’orking, and from 4/10 to 4/4 for pillar working. Negotiations, however, did not proceed as far as this. The closing down of the Black Lion leaves only Birchwood working. There is no “hire and fire” clause in its agreement, which will continue in existence until January, 1934, although a reduction of 2d per ton was recently accepted by the miners. j-. •