COAL MINERS

Grey River Argus, 29 August 1939, Page 10

COAL MINERS

WAIKATO DISPUTE WELLINGTON, August 28. Regret that a stoppage of work had taken place at the Waikato coal mines, over a dispute that had arisen regarding the dismissal of a worker, was expressed by the Minister of Mines (Mr Webb) to-day. The matter in dispute was one which might, he thought, have been adjusted without the necessity of ceasing work. On Friday, he caused inquiries to be made into the dispute, by the Inspector of Mines, and a request was made Io the mine manager that the matter should be dealt with under the disputes clause of the northern coal-mine workers’ agreement. The manager refused to adopt this course. Mr Webb said that it was the duty of both sides to have the matter in dispute dealt with in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

SOUTHLAND EXPLOSION INVERCARGILL, August 28. Some time between midnight and one o’clock on Sunday morning, considerable damage resulted in the Linton coal-mine at Ohai, through an explosion of gas in the recently sealedoff area in No. 8 Section of the Company’s No 1 mine. Fortunately, no employees were in the mine at the time of the explosion, otherwise there would have been serious loss of life. Extensive damage resulted, and the majority of the workmen will be thrown out of employment temporarily. The area where - the explosion took place was effectively sealed off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, but apparently there had been an accumulation of gas between the stoppings, which had become ignited as a result of spontaneous combustion.