MEETING OF MINERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1909, Page 8

MEETING OF MINERS.

NEW AGREEMENT ASKED FOR. WILL NOT LOAD COAL FOR NEW SOUTH WALES PORTS. [BY TELEGBAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] GREYMOUTH, This Day. ■ A very largely-attended meeting of miners afc the State collieries was held yesterday afternoon to hear a report from delegates appointed to wait on the management in reference to drawing up a new agreement for the ensuing year. Mr. Semple explained fully the action of the committee in asking for various concessions;, one of which was that the State should take the coal away from the men at the face, and not, as at present, that the miners should truck it a certain distance. ~ The manager would not agree to any of the demands, but intimated that lie intended to reduce the pillar and certain other workings by threepence per ton oh the heaving rate. The men unanimously decided not to accept any reduction, and, further, thai, the manager -be given two days in 'which to comply with the demands an reference to signing a new agreenitnt. Should the management not do so, it is certain the men will cease work. • There appears _to be a feeling at Runanga that a stoppage will take place. The miners- at the State collieries have decided not to load any coal for i Newcastle. They are rather suspicious I of. a steamer in port, which they think is likely to sail tor a- port on the other side. -They decline to load any more than five hundred tons 'if it uhould be proved that State coal is delivered in the vicinity of Newcastle. • The Brunrer Coal Company for a considerable time past has been storing up slack, owing to there being no demand for it. ' It has npw on hand several thousand tons, which, in view of the strike at Newcastle, there will no doubt be a demand for. A copy of the Greymouth telegram was shown to the Minister (the Hon. R. M'Kenzie) at one o'clock to-day, at the conclusion of the Government caucus. Apparently the message was news to him. He indicated that he could offer no information till he had examined his correspondence. The Minister for Labour (the Hon. J. A. Millar) also read the telegram,, but offered no comment. The alleged proposed reduction in tho hewing rate may be read with interest in conjunction with the following paragraph in the Budget : — "The investment in the State coal mines has proved so successful that in a years' time these properties will be good for nearly half a million, and will stand to the Dominion practically free of' cost. A perusal of the accounts will be found interesting, notwithstanding the unfair i criticism ol some 1 publications in Aus- j tralia. In one case, the Pastoralists' Review, ignoring the true profit and loss account, which undoubtedly shows the true actual profits, constructed a balance-sheet based on receipts and expenditure, including in the latter a large expenditure of capital in opening up new mines in the -Paparoa ranges, and constructing a new railway to these mines." The Premier jtns asked, this afternoon whether he wished to comment on th* Greymouth telegram. He replied that ; certain matters had been brought under his notice, but he had nothing for publication just now. Up to 3 o'clock this afternoon the Minister of Mines had received no official information about the Greymouth affair. Practically his knowledge of the matter did not go beyond the message telegraphed to The Post.