MORE COAL MINES NOW IDLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22426, 5 September 1947, Page 5

MORE COAL MINES NOW IDLE

FACTORIES COMMENCE TO SLOW DOWN GRAVE EFFECTS UPON PRODUCTION (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 4. Fifty pits are now involved in the Yorkshire coal strike. Thirty-seven of the 50 have stopped work completely. The Evening News says the situation is grave. There seems little hope of stopping the sympathy strike from embracing most of the remaining 140,000 miners in the area as the negotiations have reached a deadlock following the Grimethorpe miners’ second refusal to return to work. '•’Strike Now” notices have appeared in many of the 140 pits. Keuter says the Grimethorpe miners have not received the solution of the Mineworkers’ Union statement yesterday asking the men to resume work immediately on a larger stint and to allow a fact-finding .committee of miners to investigate the position.

The Sheffield Gas Company has asked firms, including some ‘s.ioonpo.icl [oo js s f p[.ioAv oqj jo to reduce their consumption voluntarily by as much as 50 per cent.

This request has had an immediate effect. The English Steel Corporation, which employs between 7000 and 8000 workers, said that part of their plant had been rendered idle. Other Sheffield firms have been affected to a similar extent. . ...... The Grimethorpe miners contend that it is out of the question for the older minors to work the increased stint originally agreed on. It is feared that unless a quick settlement is reached the strike may spread to all 137 Yorkshire pits, employing 146.000 miners. Meanwhile, diminishing coal production threatens the output of 2400 factories. Some cotton mills have had to begin drawing on their winter coal stocks. Clerks’ Strike Called Off An earlier message stated that steel production may be reduced by more than 25 per cent if the stoppage continues. ~ ... Union instructions to the colliery clerks to strike on Saturday have been rescinded in view of further negotiations in the dispute between the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union and the National Union of MineWorkers over the riahts of colliery clerks to negotiate with the National Coal Board. Negotiations between the unions will be held under the presidency of Mr. W. Allen, of the T«U*C* general council.