WILSON’S COLLIERIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 10

WILSON’S COLLIERIES

ATTITUDE OF MANAGEMENT MINE PLACED AT MEN'S DISPOSAL (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 3. “I think Wilson’s Collieries, Ltd., as a company will never operate the mine again, but if the men desire to work it on the co-operative party system, or on tribute, the company will be willing to take coal from them, and will place its plant at their disposal on favourable terms,” said tho general manager (Mr S. Reid), in a statement to-day. Reviewing the history of the mine, he said the cost of winning the coal continued steadily to increase, owing to harder conditions in the mine, longer haulage, water trouble caused by the flooding of the adjoining mine, as well as lack of interest and co-operation on the miners’ part. The cost reached its peak early this year. The closing of the mine meant that 190 employees were affected, including 13 officials. CONFERENCE SUGGESTED UNION’S REQUEST TO MINISTER. (Per United Press Association.) WHANGAREI, September 3. A protracted meeting of the members of the Hikurangi Miners’ Union decided to send a telegram ,to the Minister of Mines requesting him to convene a conference of all parties interested in the dispute. THE HIKURANGI MINE LABOUR MEMBERS’ INTERCEDE. MINERS ASKED TO RESUME. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 3, Accompanied by Mr H. M. Rusbworth (member for the Bay of Islands) and Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) nine Labour members of Parliament last night approached the Minister of Mines (Mr A, J. Murdoch) requesting that he should act as arbitrator in the Hikurangi dispute, and offered their co-opera-tion in bringing about a settlement. As the result of inquiries made by him Mr Murdoch, interviewed to-day, said he had been advised that the Portland Company had definitely decided not to reopen its mine, but was prepared to lease it to a co-operative party or parties, and would take the coal if it could be produced at a marketable price. He was further advised that the water was ris ing in the mine, and had practically reached the last working level, so if work were to be continued it would be necessary to take immediate steps for resumption. ; Concerning the Hikurangi mine itself the miners were in conference with a view to the resumption of work in that mine on the old conditions, and on receipt of this information he had communicated with Mr R. Semple, M.P. urging that the Labour Party should -recommend the Hikurangi miners that work be resumed. He understood that subsequently Mr W. Nash, M.P., sec retary to the party, had telegraphed to the Hikurangi Union recommending that, work be resumed. HOPES OF A SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE OF INTERESTED PARTIES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 3. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) received a telegram this afternoon from Mr J. Latham, secretary of the Hikurangi Miners’ Union, asking that he should endeavour to arrange a conference between the Hikurangi directors, the Wilson colliery directors, the Government, and the miners’ representatives with a view to effecting a settlement of the Hikurangi trouble. Similar wires were received by the Minister of Mines and the member for the district' (Mr H. M. Rushwbrth). Mr Rushworth interviewed the Minister of Mines, and arranged to leave for Hikurangi to-night. At Mr Holland’s request Mr R. Semple, M.P., and Mr W. E. Parry, M.P., both practical miners, agreed to proceed to Hikurangi along -with Mr Rushworth for the purpose of endeavouring to get the parties together with a view to bringing about a settlement. Accordingly the two. Labour members left on the Limited to-night. At Auckland, together with Mr Rushworth, they will approach the directors of both mines, after which they will go on to Hikurangi. After receiving Mr Latham’s wire Mr Holland got into communication with the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) and the Minister of Mines, who agreed that the inspector of mines (Mr Barclay) should co-operate with the three members of Parliament. Mr Murdoch also got into communication with the directors at Auckland with a view to facilitating a meeting between the directors and the members of Parliament, with the result that Mr S. Reid, managing director of Wilson’s Portland Cement Company, and Mr L. J. Stevens, a director of the Hikurangi Coal Company, have agreed to meet the three members to-morrow morning.