STATE GOAL-MINE STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14701, 8 December 1909, Page 5

STATE GOAL-MINE STRIKE

A SETTLEMENT LIKELY.

MINISTER OF MINKS TO VISIT GREYMOUTH.

(From Our Own CoitnESr-oiIDENT) WELLINGTON, December 7. Jhe prospeeb of a settlement of the btote coal mine strike appear to bo copadorably brighter il3 „, mu]t of fleoo , ia . lions with the head of the Government. Tins evening an important conference, which _ lasted for nearly two hours, took place in tfe Cabinet room. Those present. w'V"! I>rinK ' Minist2r ( Sil ' Joseph Ward the Minister of Mines (the Hon. K. Mlvenzie), the Hon. A. R. Guinness, Messrs Greem-lade, Colvin, Poland, Sedaon, M.l.s and the representatives of the Miners' federation, as well as the federation s solicitor (Mr O'Regan). _ the whole position was thoroiHily n>. viewed „,„; S on,c of the misunderstandings which have previously existed were cleared away.

. Those present were very reticent when interviewed subsequently, bat it k understood that a reasonable settlement of the whole dilkulty now appears within reach It .was considered that it was only fair and reasonable that the employees in the Mate coal mine should be placed on the same basis and accorded the same treatmeiit as that given by private companies. it will be remembered that one of the mam issues in dispute has reference to the trucking work at the. State mine. It was suggested to-day that the men should resume work immediately upon the existing conditions and that the Hon.' R M'Kenzic should visit the locality and inspect the mine and hear tho whole of he evidence that can be put before him by Hio union. In order to do this the Minister w,|] g0 to Grcymouth as soon alter Christmas a.; possible. The steamer which was to have left at o o clock this afternoon for Greymouth was detained until 8 oVloek in order that some of the lwrcsentntires present mi'dit return at once to Grcymouth and acquaint •he union there of the position. Mr Remple (president of the federation) will, immediately upon arrival at Grevmouth, discuss the whole matter with Jim men The I'nmo M"inister, when seen "us evening, said he considered that ther» was a strong probability that the sugges•wn ominating from tiiis evening's confcrentc would he approved and work continued under ordinary conditions until after Christmas, when (ho Minister of Mines would visit Hie district and no int, the whole question.

Mr fecmple made a statement, in the course of which, it is raid, he removsd a gre-it deal.of misunderstanding that ha* arisen in regard to the dispute owiV ;,, the circulation of incorrect rojrarts. ° The Prime Minister expressed the Government's adherence to the alttude indicated in his answer to 3ir Guinness'* question last week.

THE MEN'S VIEW. (Per United Pr.r.ss Association-.)

WELLINGTON. December 7. The Executive of the Miner,;' Federation flutes that in asking the management to do the trucking at Point Elizabeth the miner.? are only asking for what obtains m other mines. The men now on strike are asking merely to be placed in a position of equality' with other coal miners in the Dominion. They admit that their demand involve.* the employment of an additional 18 or 20 men. but as anaimt this the output must be greatly increased when a miner is able to spend his whole lime hewing coal. In the mine at Point

Elizabeth tile pillars arc exceptionally high, rendering work of timbering more difficult and dangerous; hence' it is absolutely necessary that not lew than two men should attend to timbering. The miner while working at the faco gets into heavy perspiration directly he leaves the face with his truck of coal. He removes into an airway, -where thero is a strong current of cold air, and he is often obliged to .stand there for 10 or 15 minute.'!, with the result that he is prone to contract a chill, and in any cafe he is not feeling fit to hew coal when he returns to the face after trucking. The miners in this particular mine are obliged to use safely lamps, which in time impair the sight. It is dangerous that men who have to uso safety lamps should do trucking and jiggins; under all the eircimifitanccfi.

POSITION ON THE WEST COAST.

(I'hom Oct Own CoRUKsroxnEST.) GRETMOUTH. December 7. Locally tho striko position remains unaltered.

The coal output from the Buller mines last week furnished three records. The aggregate was a record (21,059 tons 12cwt, us compared with 21,011 tons 13cwt—mi increase of 3047 tons 19cwt). The Stockton Company's output was a record (7005 tons 12cwt, as compared with 6127 lons 7cwl—an increase of 578 tons Scwt). and the Seddonviile State mine's output was a_ record (2504 tons Mcwt, as compared with 2401 tons 15cwt—an increase of 102 tons 19cwt).