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Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1920, Page 3

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AT ROTOWARO MINE. MEN HOLD STOP-WORK MEETING. Through one reason and another the coal mining industry to-day is probably one. of the most upset of all the industries of the Dominion, says the Auckland Star. This city in particular is feeling the effect very acutely at the present time, for of late there has been a great slackening off in the output from mines that are supposed to supply our requirements. First through a shortage of explosives and then through some grievance on tire part of the men themselves operations come to. a standstill and accordingly the stocks in the 'city dwindle and the pinch is immediately felt. In some of the country districts of the North the only supplies available are ex steamers from ports outside the Dominion. While everyone concerned is hoping for the atmosphere to clear , and for a better tone to prevail, there comes the news of the Rotowaro miners downing tools to attend a stop-work meeting,

1 l v/i and tnis after only being at work lor two or three hours after an enforce I spell through a shortage of explosives _ The men at this mine resumed operations yesterday morning after a spell cf several days, but yesterday afternoon at about two o’clock they met together at a stop-work meeting that lasted until about four o’clock' Thus the output was curtailed by rmnroximatelv 100 tons. The total’falling off in the output from this mine during a two months’ period is estimate:] at tAQO tons. Tlio incident is said to have concerned the nrn on a wage basis, who contended that, they did not receive an increase in pay at the same time that those employed on piece work had thri” rate inm-msc-i in terms of the national agreement. The men returned to work this morning. The Rotowavo mine is owned by the Taupiri Coal Co.