HIKURANGI MINES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19406, 16 February 1925, Page 8

HIKURANGI MINES.

LARGE DISMISSALS OF MEN. IMMEDIATE RELIEF SOUGHT. (Per United Press Association.) WHANGAREI, February 14. A serious position has arisen in the local coal mining industry at Hikurangi, as the result of the dismissal to-day of a further 50 men in addition to 30 who were dismissed last month. The Hikurangi Miners’ Union has telegraphed to the Prime Minister asking for immediate relief by insisting on the utilisation of local coal in place of the imported article. This coal has been used continually for the past Z 0 years by the railways and other State enterprises. The union asks whether the Prime Minister will permit the industry to be crushed by Australian competition, entailing snob serious consequences to the progress and development of the north, and whether it could be arranged for the existing Coal Commission to sit at Hikurangi to investigate the conditions in the northern coalfields. The union asked Mr Massey seriously to consider the question of introducing legislation to restrain the importation of Australian coal, excepting in circumstances when it is found absolutely necessary.