THREE MINES IDLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 10

THREE MINES IDLE

RENOWN COLLIERIES SEQUEL TO COAL WAR " POSTPONEMENT OF WAGES" OTHER MEN IN SYMPATHY [from our own correspondent] lIUNTLY, Tuesday Work at three of the mines in ihe Huntly district, thoso of tlio Renown, Glen Afton and Taupiri companies, was not resumed this morning, as tho result of the action of tho owners of tho l'enown mino in asking their employees to accept a postponement of wages to tho extent of 20 per cent during tho "coal war." During tho week-end a notice was posted in Huntly by tho secretary of tho Miners' District Council, Mr. W. Davison, stating that owing to the owners' terms being enforced at tho Renown mine, tho resolution passed at a massed meeting last week would be put into force and all three mines would remain idle. Miners were instructed not to present themselves for work until further notice. After a meeting of tho council, Mr. Davison communicated with the secretary of the Coal Mine Owners' Association, Mr. T. O. Bishop, in Wellington. It is stated that until a favourable reply is received or some action is taken by tho owners, tho mines concerned will remain idle. Work was resumed at tho Pukemiro and Wilton collieries. A separate agreement exists between the owners of the Wilton mine and the men, while the local miners' union at Pukemiro is not affiliated with tho district council, hut is linked up with the Miners' National Council. A further meeting of the men is to he held in Huntly to-morrow evening. On behalf of Renown Collieries, Limited, Mr. N. R. Chapman stated yesterday that no action had been decided upon' by the company yet, while the notices 'would not be withdrawn. No further proposals had been considered. It was stated by representatives of Glen Afton Collieries that no course of action had been contemplated up to the present. There was no dispute between the company and the miners, who had refused to work out of sympathv with the men at the Renown mine". No advice had been received of any meeting of the Coal ]\lino o\v ners Association, while the company had not been approached by the Miners District Council.