TROUBLE WITH COIL MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 17367, 1 June 1920, Page 4

TROUBLE WITH COIL MINERS

| TAUPIRI COMPANY. m Tho miners who are employed by tho Taupiri Coal Company and who work at the Rotowaru mine "had another day off yesterday, the reason given by the 'head office being that the refused to wait for the train that conveys them daily to and from the mine, and which, was half an hour late yesterday morning. This train leaves Huntly every morning at 7 o'clock with men for the Rotowaru and Pukemiro mines. Yesterday morning, owing to the heavy fog at Huntly in the night, considerable difficulty was experienced in getting up steam on the engine, and the train was not' ready to lerfve until about 10 minutes to 8. The result was that the Rotowaru men decided not to wait for the belated engine, and returned to their homes. About 60 of the Pukemiro miners also refused to wait for the train, and went home rather than start work half an hour late. The action, of tlie Rotowaru miners means a loss of 300 tons of coal, this being the average output of that mine, while; the loss of coal from the Pukemiro mine for the day will be in the vicinity of 200 tons, making a total loss in coal of approximately 500 tons on the output of the two mines for the day. TARATU MEN IDLE. Owing to a difference of opinion with the management in regard to the interpret ition of the Tecent agreement, the men employed in the Taratu Company's mine came out yesterday. About 50 men nre affected. It is expected that the Industrial Disputes Committee will deal with tho matter.