TROUBLE AHEAD?

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 8

TROUBLE AHEAD?

MINERS' WAGES AT WAIHI

POSSIBILITY OF STOPPAGE.

<BI TELEfIRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 26th January.

A serious position has developed at Waihi -in connection with the recent Arbitration Couxt award reducing the wages of miners. A stop-work meeting has been called for to-morrow morning by the Ohinemuri miners and Batteries-! Union, t and, if held, will result in the closing down of the Waihi. and Grand Junction mines until Tuesday, when the 'resumption of operations will depend upon the .decision arrived at by the men as to the adoption or otherwise of the go-slow policy.

The superintendent of the Waihi mine (Mr. E. S. Banks) stated this evening that so far as the company understood the stop-work meeting had been called for the purpose of endeavouring to enforce the go-slow policy on members of the union. The company, therefore, had had to say there was absolutely no room for the go-slovr method of work. If the miners were going to' adopt that poljey the company would be forced to close down the mine. It was imposible to carry.on the mine with any prospect of success if the miners adopted go-slow methods. '

News ; of the deadlock was rumoured in Auckland to-day, causing Waihi share to change hands freely on a weaker market. Parcels sold as low as 29s 9d, with a slight recovery later to 30s 9d selleTs, and 30s 3d buyers. Grand Junctions were less affected, though buyers offered only 8s 9d, and sellers at 9s 6d. -