WEST COAST MINERS.

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1927, Page 6

WEST COAST MINERS.

Th? District Council held a meeting in (Treymouth on Feb. 11 th. Those present were: T. Whittle (President) W. Balderstone (Secretaiy), I). Ilay ward (Treasurer), J. Conucl (Si ah Mine), T. Muir (Denniston), W. V.’ik (Roa), J. Smeaton (Dobson), F. Theo bald (Ngakawau), NV. Clark (Miller ton), E. Boven (Westport Main) Ngakawau Union sent forward a reconi inundation That in order to enable al the men at Stockton Mine to work tci shifts on the coal, the Company be al lowed to produce coal on the back Sal urday, otherwise the Company migii operate‘some dismissal notices. ’flu recommendation was not received ver; favourably, and it was pointed out tha the 10-days coal-producing policy wa mainly put into effect at the instanc of Stockton and Millerton Unions, who at that time, were working very irregu larly; further that two ballots of th 1 membership had already been taken oi I the question, and that the wish of th inajority was strongly in favour <-f ; five-d.ays’ pci week coal producing pol icy’ being continued. Millerton Union desired a baliot to b taken of all members regarding the pro Iposal for all underground twork 11 shifts per fortnight. Il wn idecidcd (Muir, Denniston, dissenting Ito make a recommendation to I nion I that the desi'-e of the Millerton Uniol be given effect to. I Strong disapproval was expressed b I delegate's of the delay in the unwater ling of the Dobson Mine, it being th ig(*neraly opinion that the delay was un warranted, and that more than a rea sonable period had elapsed, m whicl the necessary administrative changedealing with finance and manageria 'question had been allowed. The Seen tary was instructed t-e a ivi.-t the Min lister of Mines that unless the unwater ng wa- cunin.'need without any furthe delay, the Council wanild recommem I Unions t » cease production as a prutes (note the Council have since been noli tied that the unwatering is to becoun rnenced on Thursday, Feb. 21th). Denniston Union reported that tin Westpoit Coal Company had been issuei a permit to use black powder in th. Typo section, and rhe Secretary wa instructed to forward the following re solution to the Minister of Mines: — That this Council views with alarm th' intention to reintroduce black powde into the mines of New’ Zealand, am further, that this Council will resist t< the fullest extent any attempt to US' black powder. ’ ’ The President and Treasurer wer instructed to visit NVestport Alain am Stockton in regard io various matter of importance. It w’as reported that there was ; i large amount of labour available fo engagement at every mine, and it w’a decided to acquaint the British Miners orgnisations with the state of affair lexisting also to ask the British Miner I Federation to forward particulars o any individuals who have migrated t< New’ Zealand who scabTicld in Britaii during the recent strike. The Council unanimously decided L support the action of the Federate! Beamon’s Union of New Zealand ii Expelling Messrs Toung and Howett land decided to recognise no other union