THE PUKEMIRO SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17603, 16 October 1920, Page 6

THE PUKEMIRO SETTLEMENT.

The public will learn with very great satisfaction of the settlement of the Pukemiro dispute. The terms are such as do no violence to the principles or material interests of either side, and the only sentiment the puhHc will voice concerning them is regret that a solution so simple could not have been reached at a very much earlier stage in the j dispute. The men have conceded I the vital principle that engine men : shall remain at work during a strike ] to ensure the safety of the mine, | and as this undertaking is without I the formal guarantees at first -pro- ; posed it becomes a test of good ! faith which the miners cannot j hghtly ignore. The resumption of I work at Pukemiro will close an unj fortunate chapter in the history of j the Waikato mines. A frivolous | strike, light-heartedly commenced on i September 6, developed into a stub- ! born struggle which must have in- , volved hardship to the miners and ! which for a time severely handi- | capped the industrial life of the city Jof Auckland. During the 34 work- ! ing days the Pukemiro mine has j been idle the loss of wages has I amounted to over £5000 and the loss lof coal to 14,000 tons. During the . shorter period the other two mines j were closed the men lost about j £7000 in wages aDd the public 20,000 j tons of coal. The aggregate loss when the stoppage of the tramways and the paralysis of city industry is taken into account must be very considerable. For the moment the horizon is free from industrial clouds so far as coalmining is concerned, and the public, which has been the real victim of the continuous storms, will hope for at least a season of fair weather.