SITUATION AT THAMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 30

SITUATION AT THAMES.

_ THAMES,- January 8. Thsre is no cuange^in the local position so far as the mining'trouble is concerned. The miners wjio, after the first meeting of the union, were examined and resumed thair employment are still at work. No demand was made on them to cease, though it is contended that they acted with undue haste. The present mining difficulty is having Us -effect on the supply of coal to the Kauiaki pump. Quantities of sawdust are being used in the main pumping pJant foor the district fives, so as to economise coal. The pump draws its coal supplies principally from Waikato, Nguisguru, and Kigiiirangi. As each of these coal minmg <L3u*icte is affected by the present difficulty, the supply of coal will show a considerable decrease unless r. solution is arrived at. The stoppage of the Hauraki j pump would be a disastrous thing for t.'ie ! district, as it would nullify a good deal of valuable work. A! a largely-attended meeting of the I Thames Minsns' Union it was decided to j send the president (Mr Sawyer) to Auckland as a delegate to a combined meeting of labour unionists to-morrow n%ht. It was also decided to allow the pu<mp employees to remain, in employment, the ' opinion being expressed that" the pump should remain working in the interests of all concerned and of the industry itself. " The meeting considsred at length vaiious propositions, and eventually it was decided to hold a special meeting en Wednesday. i