LONG COAL STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21398, 24 January 1933, Page 11

LONG COAL STRIKE

POSITION IN SOUTHLAND ANOTHER MINE INVOLVED' ONLY ONE NOW WORKING [by telegraph—press association] INVERCARGILL, Monday The latest development in the Ohai coal strike is that, in addition to the mines which have been idle since August 17 last, the Linton, Warakei, Mossbank and Black Diamond mines, the Black Lion mine is now idle. This mine, which closed down on Friday as a result of the failure of the owner and the men to come to a settlement, did not reopen this morning. The miners worked last "week under notice to see if some agreement could be reached, but a conference with the owner, Mr. P. McSk;mming, on [Wednesday proved a fruitless >one.

The owner is stated to have refused to engage men under the old conditions, and the miners lodged an objection to the "hire and fire" clause, under tho provisions of which the mine manager is given the undisputed right to engage-or dismiss men at his own discretion. This clause has been the cause of the trouble at the other mines, the contention of the men being that it should be struck out and that provision should be made for sharing the work. It is also understood that the owner of the Black Lion mine proposed a reduction of 6d a ton in the amount of coal hewn, which would reduce tho rate from 5s 4d to 4s lOd for solid working and from 4s lOd to 4s 4d for pillar working. The negotiations, however, did not proceed as far as this. The closing down of the Black Lion mine leaves only the Birchwood mine working. There is no "hire and fire" clause in its agreement, which will continue in existence until January, 1934, although a reduction of 2d a ton was recently accepted by the miners.