WEST COAST MINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20874, 14 November 1929, Page 10

WEST COAST MINES

ABRUPT END OF STRIKE. CONCESSION BY OWNERS. RESUMPTION OF WORK TO-DAY. (Per United Press Association.) - GREYMOUTH, November 13. Following quickly upon the decision yesterday of the organised miners on the West Coast coal fields to strike in support of the Blackball Union's stand against the employment of non-unionist engine driver* at the Blackball mine, the trouble was fettled to-day. There i* general satisfaction at this result as the stoppage had involved about 2500 men in the Buller and Grey district*. The settlement came unexpectedly early as a result of the Intervention of the Blackball mine directorate. Mr W. W, Gibson, tbe new secretary-director of the company, arrived in Blackball to-day, and there was a hurried call for a conference between the executive of the Miners’ Union and representatives of the company—Messrs Gibson, W. Parsonage (mine manager), and Thompson. The conference proved an amicable one. The outcome was that the miners* demand was agreed to, with the result that unionist engine-drivers are now in charge of the haulage engines and the generating plant, while the non-unionist engine-drivers’ services have been dispensed with. The result of the conference was notified to the secretary of the West Coast Miners’ Council (Mr R. M'Gregor) at Millerton, who immediately telegraphed to the whole of the unions as follows: — Causa of stoppage removed, the two engine-drivers being discharged. Suggest all mines should resume work immediately. The result is that work Will be resumed to-morrow at all the Biller mines, at the State mines, and at the Dobson and Wallsend mines. At the Blackball mine the shiftmen will resume to-morrow and the miners on Monday. WESTPORT OVERJOYED. (Per United Press Association.) WESTPORT, November 13. News that the trouble at Blackball had been settled was received with rejoicing here a* the people were looking forward to a particularly bright Christmas. The mines are reopening to-morrow.