TAUPIRI COAL MINES

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 7

TAUPIRI COAL MINES

SLACKNESS OF ORDERS.

EIGHTY-FIVE MEN PUT OFF.

(Per United Press Association.)

Auckland, December 17.

Eighty-five workers at. the Taupiri Coal Company’s mines this morning received 14 days’ notice of dismissal. Y'esterday a notice was forwarded by the secretary of the Taupiri Coal Mines to the secretary of the Union informing him that the directors had, owing to slackness of orders, been reluctantly forced to reduce the number of men.

When interviewed, the Hon. E. W. Alison, Chairman of Directors of Taupiri Coal Mines, stated that with the existing economic conditions and the large number of unemployed, the directors of the company were extremely reluctant to reduce the number of .workers. However regrettable it was, there was no alternative, as the whole of the coal to supply the present, or even additional orders, could be obtained by the working of one mine. The company had l>een working three mines, Nos. 1,2 and 3, and the directors had now decided to close Nos. 2 and 3. During the summer period there was always a falling-off in the demand for coal, but this summer it had been more marked than in previous summers. With the decreased orders and three mines working, the directors decided it was imperative that steps be taken at once to stop the loss consequent upon the working of the three mines. However, in closing the two mines, precautions would be taken to keep each in good order and in readiness for re-working at 48 hours’ notice.