WEST COAST COAL MINES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11748, 7 February 1919, Page 6

WEST COAST COAL MINES

GO SLOW POLICY ENFORCED EXTREMISTS AIMING T CHAOS PergPress Association. Wellington, Feoru&ry 15 Wellington papers stats that the “go slow” policy is being enforced in the West Coast coal mines The Blackball men have been ordered not to earn more than eleven shillings per day, which is about half the rate. In not submitting the matter to the Disputes Committee, the men are alleged to have broken the spirit of the agreement arrived at, and it is asserted that certain extremists are trying <o force an industrial upheaval. The nominal dispute at Blackball is over a small question of tracking. Mr Semple has resigned his position as mluers’agent. VERY LITTLE COAL PRODUCED Per Press Asssociation Oreymouth, December 5 As the result of a meeting of Blackball miners on Sunday, when differences with the management over the interpretation of the award were discussed, the coal output at the mines during the last few days has practically ceased. The differences coyer several points in the awards. One kiud is abont the use of “flat sheets” in trucking, the miners contending chat their use, hitherto customary in this mine Is not provided for by the award. The trouble is purely locil as the Blackball agreement differs from thoe 0 in other mines as regard the disputed points. It is understood the Miners’ Federation executive advises the Blackball Union to continue to work a«d submit the dispute to the Local Dispute Committee, representing the management and men. Meantime, however, while all the men have been going to work as usual, there has been little or no output of coal.