THE KAITANGATA COAL MINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21688, 5 July 1932, Page 9

THE KAITANGATA COAL MINE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Please allow me to air -a complaint regarding the Kaitangata Coal Company’s method of engaging men. Tt seems to me very unjust, to say the least of it, that at a time when there are ou or 40 unemployed men in the township, most of them with mining, experience, who have been asking the mine manager. Mr Carson, for work for weeks, and some of whom were promised first chance, yet a few days, ago he sent to Waitaki to get an inexperienced man. . If Mr Larson s usual procedure is earned out, when th summer comes, some poor unfortunate who has been here for years and giving satisfaction will be dismissed, and this in dividual will be kept .on full time. Mr M'Skimming, the chairman of duectors. promised the local men first chance, and was quite willing, to make a convenience of them a short time ago when there was a strike ballot taken here. Per|aPS the local unemployed will remember t us, ami not be quite so willing to.help the com pany out next time. Why the Miners Union allows this state of affairs luont know, but it is up to the union or M flirson or Mr M'Skimming, or. the lot of them, to enlighten the public through your columns.—l am, etc., Local. Kaitangata, June 29. (We have made inquiries respecting the complaint expressed in the above The “ inexperienced man to whom reie ence is made is a trucker who was previously employed by the company, lost his position during a fack penod He was then employed at the Waitaki hydro-electric works, and was one of those whose services were recently dispensed with. Mr M'Skimming informs u«1 that he was not asked to make, nor d d * make any such promise as is alleged, but preference would naturally be given to local men when vacancies werefobe filled. The men who were, taken on a few weeks ago were not entitled to vote in the strike ballot. —Ed. 0.D.1.J