MINE TO BE ABANDONED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20968, 3 September 1931, Page 8

MINE TO BE ABANDONED.

WILSONS' COLLIERY.

CLOSING ON SATURDAY.

SECOND DISPUTE CONTINUES

PROSPECTS FOR SETTLEMENT.

[BY TELECItAPK. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] 0 WHANGAREr. Wednesday. The announcement of the definite closing of Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland .Cement. Limited's, colliery rCt Hikurangi ar, from Saturday, and conferences of the Miners' Union executive with Mr. P. Hally, conciliation commissioner, and with Mr. W. D. Holgate, president of the Mineowners Association, are the latest developments in the position regarding the stoppage of work at the Hikurangi mines.

Mr. Hally, who arrived at Hikurangi yesterday afternoon, and interviewed the Miners' Union executive in the evening, continued the conference to-day. Interviewed this afternoon, he said certain proposals had been made with a view to the settlement of the dispute, but they could not be discussed. Loss of Material and Oear.

It is now stated that Wilsons' colliery is to be closed definitely. All the officials connected with the mine have received notice terminating their engagement, and all work will cease as from next Saturday. Any material not recovered from the mine or shaft by that day will have become submerged by water and therefore seriously damaged. It is considered that it wiil not be possible to recover all the material and gear.

According to estimates/ over 14,000,000 gallons of water are now in the mine and each day makes the position considerably worse. It is stated that the amount of water entering the mine in one day would take two days to remove, as the higher the water rises the greater are the difficulty and the cost in pumping it out. After this week it would not be possible in any case to employ any miners for several weeks.

Unless measures are taken to cope with the flow of water into Wilsons' Collieries before the end of September it is estimated the Hikurangi Coal Company's mine will be seriously affected. Should heavy rains occur, the flow of. water into the mines will be considerably increased.

Friendly Suggestions.

The closing of Wilsons' mine has necessitated the company making other arrangements for the supply of compressed air for the cement works, and this has been accomplished by using a suitable oil engine.

Mr. Holgate arrived by express to-day and proceeded immediately to Hikurangi, where lie met the miners' executive in an unofficial capacity. The interview lasted one and a-half hours. The position was outlined and several friendly suggestions were made. A meeting of miners has been called for this morning to consider these.

There is every reason to hope that a favourable decision will be reached and that provision will be made for the men to return to the Hikurangi mine. The secretary of the Miners' Union stated; that the matter of the conference between Mr. Holgate and the executive would be discussed at the meeting.

r QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT.

A SUGGESTED ARBITRATOR.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —FRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

In tho House of Representatives to-day Mr. H. LI. Rushworth (Country—Bay of Islands) asked the Minister of Mines, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, what was the latest information in regard to the two coalmiues at HikurangL He also asked whether, in view of the statement that Wilsons' mine would be hopelessly flooded unless safety work was resumed by Saturday, tho Minister would intimate to both sides that ho would bo prepared to act as arbitrator. Mr. Murdoch said as definite information concerning the conditions at the mines to-day had not been received, it was impossible to answer the question.