AN IDLE COALMINE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 December 1927, Page 9

AN IDLE COALMINE.

HEN TO TAKE IT OVER. CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM. Owing to unsatisfactory financial results. the company which has been working a coalmine at Catamaran, on the south coast of Tasmania, has decided to discontinue operations, and negotiations have been entered into with the Coalminers’ Federation with a view to the mine being taken over by th|Y uriionn. It was stated that the company had offered the property to the miners to work on a co-operative basis, and it is probable that the offer of the directors that thi3 men should work the mine at the recognised wage rates and deliver the coal to the wharf, where it would be purchased by the company, would be accepted. Any profits, 'it was suggested, should be distributed periodically as dividends to the men. The installation of the surface plant has involved the company in an outlay of £IOO,OOO, but it wag stated that it had no further funds for developing the mine underground. The general secretary of the Coalminers’ Federation, Mr !>• J. Davies, who has been on a visit to Tasmania, said in Melbourne recently that lie had investigated the proposal, which lie had discussed with the employees concerned in the mine. There was a seam of coal 4ft lOin thick and it was equal 1 o the best steaming coal produced on the Newcastle field. In addition, there was a 3ft. seam of anthracite. The mine, which was well equipped, had been closd on September 19. There were 50 families in Catamaran depending on the mine, and the miners were eager for a resumption of work.