SUDDEN STOPPAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26849, 13 August 1948, Page 4

SUDDEN STOPPAGE

WORK AT. THREE WAIKATO MINES

DISPUTE OVER SPECIAL PAY P.A. AUCKLAND, Aug., 12. With three mines and more than 700 men idle to-day, a dispute at Huntly has taken a serious turn. The loss in coal output is already about 1400 tons a day. ,A meeting of the executive of"* the Northern Miners’ Union Atfgg'TCld in Huntly to-night to discuss f the dispute, Put the president, Mr J. Hall,' had no statement to make after the meeting. Strikes spread unexpectedly this morning when the men at the Glen Afton and Pukemiro mines decided to join the Macdonald mine in a strike in support of higher pay for two men working there. The Macdonald miners decided to strike yesterday, but it is understood that none of the other mines then voted in support of this course and that the majority vote was in favour of allowing the dispute to be settled In the normal way by the Local Disputes Committee. The Glen Afton mine was also idle yesterday, but it was stated that this was due to the late hour to which a stop-work meeting lasted rather than to support for the Macdonald strike. The other three privately owned mines, Rotowaro, Alison and Renown, continued to-day. The superintendent of the controlled mines in Huntly, Mr J. Hughes, declined to comment upon the position. It is understood, however, that the dispute arose over the payment of a couple of men employed in the Macdonald mine on a special coal moving job for which payment is outside the provisions of the award. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the rate of pay .offered by the management. Xn-ani effort to avoid a dispute .the r fcanagement is stated to have undertaken to give the men work at the same rate of pay as offered at another place in the mine pending settlement of the claim by the Disputes Committee. The dispute has arisen through non-acceptance by some of the miners of this compromise, although it is Stated that the majority still favour referring the dispute to tne appropriate committee. Discontent in the Waikato mines recently, vtith its expression in stoppages of work, has caused a considerable drop in coal output. The Macdonald and Glen Afton mines, which usually ' produce from 750 to. 800 tons daily, nave been yielding on an average about 100 tons less, and this trend is causing serious concern among the coal companies.