THE STATE MINE

Evening Star, Issue 14224, 25 November 1909, Page 4

THE STATE MINE

AVERSE T0 : W^RQMIBE. ROTH DEVELOPMENT^. [Pee United Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, November 25. "'_' In the course of an unofficial statement it is shown that the Miners' Executive 6pme months age, submitted a proposal for a penny reduction in the hewing rate, provided the management jdid all the trucking. The miners, however, refused to contirrn t-his, although the* point in, depute has been the demand by the Miners' Union that the management should under take all trucking and jigging. To bring about- a- cornprpmiso this issue has several times been attempted,, but efforts at settlement hsvo always proved abortive, the men being in iio humor for any compromise. They want their demand or nothing. The miners' 'meeting yesterday lasted over two hours, but no communication whatever would be made to the I'ress. Both sides aro 'lying low," taking no action whatever to bring about .a resumption of negotiations. All members of the union have been pledged to refuse to give any information to the Press, and this, together with the reticence of both parties, makes it difficult to obtain authoritative statements. Many rumore aTe in circulation anent the outcome of yesterday's meeting. Only this is certain: so far no other unions as yet have been approached in the matter by the State miners. There is a great deal of coal from other local mines, all of which are advertising for more miners. The Point Elizabeth mine has been averaging about 25.000 tons per month, of which the. Railway Department has'been taking nearly half. This department, however, will be able to stand at least four months' siege even if all sources of supply are stopped.