Labour World

Inangahua Times, 24 August 1931, Page 2

Labour World

(Per United Press Assn.) Strike at Wilson’s Mine Pumps Being Withdrawn > Whangarei, This day Crucial conditions continue in connection with the strike, which commenced last Wednesday at Wilson’s (N Z.) Portland Cement Company’s mine at Hikurangi. Two hundred men attended a meeting of the Miners' Union branch yesterday, when a decision reached oo practically a unanimous

vote to hand the dispete over to tbe National United Mine Workere' Union. Representations have been telegraphed. aod it is expected that a definite reply will be received early this week “ Tbe men are not worrying whether tbe mine ts closed or not. Tbe owners have been holding this bogey over their owo heads all the time, using it as a weapon to bring tbe men into Submission,” declared Mr Latham, Secretary of the Union. In tbe meantime tbe mine is manned by a skeleton staff. Five pumps have reached the surface, and are baing dismantledThe management indicates that unless tbe men resume work to-morrow tbe last of the eight pumps (a big eight-inch), which coat £ISOO, will be withdrawn, which would mean tbe irretrievable swamping of the workings.

There ia much anxiety concerning the safety of men in tbe adjoining mine, the Hikurangi Coal Company, as tbe workings there are bound to flood if Wilson’s Mine is unattended. Tbe total number employed at Wilson's and Hikurangi Mines is 360, while tbe other small mines in the vicinity employ 60 meq. Wilson's woikers declare that tbe next move must come from tbe company.