ANOTHER STOPPAGE

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1920, Page 2

ANOTHER STOPPAGE

STATE COAL. MINES ID(LE.

BETTER TRANSPORT FACILITIES

AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. The Sbafe mines were idle yesterday on account of the miners' dissatisfaction over the train service.

At a stop-work meeting the men, aftsr considering Dpartmental reports, decided unanimously that until bobter travelling facilities were provided they would refuse to continue work. the executive of the Miners' Union subsequently met the Undersecretary for Mines (Mr Kunbell), along with the mine managers, and discussed their grievances, but later Started that no final settlement was possible until the Railway Department was consulted. The miners* say that the dispute is with the Hallway Department and not with the Mines Deparmont. Their representatives f-ontend that the men are anxious for a settlement, but tho miners are unanimously against resuming work until an assurance is given.that travelling facilities will be adjusted to enable them to get to and from work without the delay and inconvenience caused them by the exist, ing arrangements. It is impossible to say when the mines will resume, since the men stand firm us a result of the failure of less extreme measures to secure tho desired adjustment, Tho stoppage means a. loss or ouu tons of coal daily. Referring to the reported stoppage of the State mines, the Prime Minister s»id on Tuesday that he thought there must hz some misapprehension. Tho grievances of the .men regarding tho train service had been investigated, and he 1 bought the trouble would have been settled by instructions he had ,n,lre;uly given. The matte* was being looked into further.