NORTHERN MINERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 5

NORTHERN MINERS

STOP-WORK MEETINGS. TROUBLE CONCERNS RAILWAY CONCESSIONS. ?BB PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 6. Stop-work meetings wero held today at the Huntly, Pukemiro, and Rptowaro mines in connection with the demand for railway concessions .similar to those granted t.o the men employed in the State coal mines. It was recently stated that the miners had intimated their intention., not to go to work to-day unless these concessionswero granted. Approached by a reporter for a statement of > the position," the secretary of the Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd., said that the fii'st intimation his company had was from tho secretary of the Coal Owners' Association on Wednesday last. "Our company,-" -he said, "has nof-heen approached on the matter in any way-by the Pukemiro union, or by any member of it. We understand from the secretary of-our association that our workers residing in "Huntly demand a reduction in railway fares from the workers' tickets rate of 4 s 9d per week to the suburban rates of 2s 6d or 2s 3d per week, which the Railway Department has declined." It is, therefore, a dispute between the Railway Department and the workers. About 25 per cent, of -our' workers''inside' in -'Huntly 7 s Many of' them ■ have - had- the opportunity of obtaining houses at Pukemiro at different times, but prefer to reside in Huntly, and when a man is given employment no question is asked as to where he intends to reside. The Pukemiro Company is quite prepared to carry on with the workers resident there, and allow the Huntly men to follow other occupations. They voluntarily came to our employment and we cannot , in s ,any\ way to continue .-ijuit" VOjily,, in, ,dje last; fortnight the'miners were granted an advance 'in rates which brought their average daily wage to oyer 30s on days worked.'' _ OUTLOOK FOR INDUSTRY. SERIOUS INTERFERENCE THREATENED. MB PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 6. In'connection with .the strike at the Huntly," Piikemiro, "'.' and/"""Rotowaro mines the cessation of work which was decided on at to-day's stop-work meetings threatens to seriously, interfere with numerous industrial concerns that depend on their power from Pukemiro coal.

The City Council and other local bodies will also be affected.

Among industrial concerns 'depending, largely on Pukemiro coal are the Northern Roller Mills, a, number of biscuit -factories , and . bakeries, : freezing companies, dairy factories, and breweries.