STATE COAL MINERS.
A RUMOURED STRIKE.
DISCOUNTED BY MANAGER.
[by TELEGRAPH.— association.]
Greymouth, Tuesday. , The State coal miners have been in. conference with the manager during the last few days considering : a new agreement. There has been a good deal of discussion over certain points.. The miners want the manager to undertake all trucking, which means taking the, coal from the mmetn t at the face. The manager declines to give this concession unless a reduction'is made of 3d per ton in the hewing rate, to go to provide for the extra cost of trucking. On Friday evening the miners held a meeting, when it was decided not to agree to the reduction in the hewing rate, and the. manager was given notice to that effect. A further conference was held yesterday afternoon, when matters were further discussed. Rumours reached town that the miners intended to strike on Friday if the trucking concession. was not acceded to.
Mr. Bishop, manager, on being interviewed, said there was no prospect of a strike, and that the rumours were unfounded. The miners were in conference with him over a new agreement and had not arrived at any conclusion yet. In changing a system of working the mine there must necessarily be some give and take, and 'if the miners wanted the trucking done they should agree to a slight reduction in the hewing rate. It was foolish to talk of a strike at the present time, as the miners were working under the old agreement, which fell out on June 29, 1909, but the award stated that it shall remain in force until another agreement has been arrived at to take its place. Mr. Bishop said he was hopeful of being able to arrange matters amicably with the miners. They had worked in harmony for the past six years, and there was every reason to believe they would continue to do so. The hewing rate reduction proposed: of 3d per ton was not hard and fast, and some modification might be made. .....'.
The conference will be resumed in the morning, and the prospects of a mutual understanding are bright.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 7
Word Count
356STATE COAL MINERS. New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 7
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