STATE MINERS.

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1927, Page 5

STATE MINERS.

DECISION TO RESUME. Fan Attendant Secured. The meeting yesterday of the Stale Miners’ Union at Runaiiga, at 10 a.m. was well attended, the business being to review the dispute with the management in the light of the latest developments. It was reported that the management would doubtless be agreeable to the provision of an attendant continuously at the Middle Brake fan, and that the Minister of Mines was to go himself into the matter of the nonpayment of an hour’s wages in connection with the fan breakdown on February 10. A resolution was proposed that work should be resumed the fidlowing day. An amendment was moved that the day of resuming work should be Monday next. The amendment was carried by a majority of 67 votes. A motion to request that there should be an attendant for the fan continuously was carried. An amendment that the request be for an attendant to be on duty at the fan while men were in the mine was defeated. The meeting agreed to the matter of the ndn-payment for an hour on Febru ary 10th being referred to the Minister of Mines for his personal consideration on the occasion of his next visit here, which is expected shortly. The Superintendent of State Mines (Mr I. A. James) stated yesterday that, as arranged, the State Mines will resume production on Monday, and that a continuous attendance at the fan at the Middle Brake has been sanctioned, while the question of the payment feaii hour on February 10 will be decided by the Minister when he shortly vis its the West Coast.

A Long Fight.

BLACK DIAMOND MINE DISPUTE SETTLED YESTERDAY. BLACKBAL, Feb. 24. The West Coast Miners’ Council has received advice of the settlement today of the very lengthy dispute at the Black Diamond Mine in the Nightcaps district, Southland. This mine has been idle for no less than twenty-eight weeks A settlement satisfactory to the workers has been agreed on. The mine resumes production to-morrow (Friday). It is worthy of note that this fight has cost the United Mine Workers of N.Z. and the Black Diamond miners between £2OOO and £3OOO.