THE COAL-MINERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2048, 7 September 1920, Page 5

THE COAL-MINERS.

NORTHERN COLLIERIES IDLE. TROUBLE OVER RAILWAY FARES Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 6. Stop-work meetings were held today at Huntly, Pukemiro and P.otowaro in connection with the demand for railway concessions similar to those granted to the men employed in the Slate coal-mines. It was recently stated that* the miners had intimated their intention not to go to work to-day unless these concessions were granted. Approached by a reporter for a statement on the position, the secretary of the Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd.,' said that the first intimation his company had was from the secretary of the CoalOwners' Association on Wednesday last. "Our company," he said, '"lias not been approached on the matter in any way by the Pukemiro union or any member of it. We understand from the secretary of our association that our workers residing in Huntly demand a reduction in railway fares from the workers' ticket rate of 4/0 per week to the suburban rates of 2/6 or 2/3 per week, which the Railway Department has declined. It is therefore a dispute between the Railway Department and the workers. About 25 per cent, of our workers reside in Huntly. Many of them have had an opportunity of obtaining houses at Pukemiro at different times, but they prefer to reside in Huntly. When a man is given employment, no question is asked as to where he intends to reside. The Pukemiro Company is quite prepared to carry on with the workers resident there, and allow the Huntly men to follow other occupations. They voluntar-

ily came to our employment, and we cannot in any way compel them to continue. It was only in the last fortnight that the miners were granted an advance in rates which brought their average daily wage to over 30/- on days worked.*' INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. Press Avsocialion. AUCKLAND, September G. In connection with the strike at the Huntly, Pukemiro and Rotowaro mines, the cessation of work, which was decided on at to-day's stopwork meetings, threatens to seriously interfere with numerous industrial concerns that depend on their power from Pukemiro coal. The City Council and 'other local bodies will also be affected. Among the industrial concerns depending largely on Pukemiro coal are the Northern Roller Mills, a number of biscuit factories, bakeries, freezing companies, dairy factories and breweries.