STATE GOAL MINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14684, 18 November 1909, Page 8

STATE GOAL MINES

THE MINISTER'S PROPOSALS.

(Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, November 17. In connection with the trouble at the State eolliericfi, a conference between the mine manager and the union lepresentatives was held this afternoon, at which the former placed beforo the meeting certain proposals which it >'s understood emanated from Wellington. The miners asked for time lo place the proposition before tho union. This was acoedcd to, and the conference adjourned till to-morrow. The naturo of the proposals made 011 behalf of the Minister of Mines has not vet been disclosed.

BALLOT DECIDED UPON. (Per Uxitkd Press. Association.) GREYMOUTH, November 17. The negotiations are king carried out in the most- friendly, manner, and there appears no cause tor thinking there will be trouble at the township. The miners view with suspicion the action of the Westport Company ; n putting on double shifts. ' Later. It was decided this evening to submit tho matters in dispute with the manager to a ballot to-morrow morning.

WESTPORT COMPANY'S ACTION,

(Peb United Press Association.) WESTPORT, November 17.

In reference 1.0 the statement in a telegram from Greymouth that the "miners view with suspicion the action of the Westport Company in putting on double shifts,'' Mr Curtis, manager of the local branch for the Westport Coal Company, explains thai- his company has only resumed the shift knocked off some months ago, and that this is done to meet the New Zealand demand and the • bunkering of vessels at Wellington and other ports, such as the Ijser Line, etc., and to meet the demands from gasworks in different parts of the Dominion.. This company, he says, is not supplying outside demands. All' the coal it can supply is requited in New Zealand. No other company in mis district is working a double shift, but both the Stockton and the Slats mine, in consequence of the increased demand, are working with prac ticallv no loss of time.