COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1920, Page 5

COAL.

STATE MINES IDLE, MOTHER PETTY DISPUTE. PREMIER'S GRAVE THREATi MAY CLOSE THE MINES. By Tolegraph —Press Association. i Wellington, Laat Night. The coal trouble was mentioned ill the House of Representatives this afternoon by, Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), who said it was freely rumoured that there was another strike at the State foal mines and he asked the Premier whether this was true, and if so, whether the Premier knew what was the cause of the strike. Mr. Masqey saial he had received that morning the following telegram on the subject from Mr. Duggan (secretary of the Miners' Union at Runanga):— "As a result of the Railway Department's attitude in ordering workmen out of a first-class ear, add as 1 there was not sufficient accommodation on the rest of the train, men were prevented fron} going to work by the first train to Rewanui. A mass meeting this morning strongly protested against the pin-pricking action of the Railway Department, and we refuse to travel under such circumstances." That, said Mr. Massey, was the miners' statement of the case, and he would read the Railway Department's reply, which had just come to hand from the district traffic manager at Greymouth:— "The State mines stopped to day. ' The miners declined to proceed past Dunollie on account of the guard on the 0-35 a.m. train from Greyinouth refusing to allow them to travel firstclass on second-class tickets. The train consisted of two long A secondclass cars, and one Compo C car. About ten miners got into the firstclass compartment at Runanga, but moved out whefi requested to do so by the guard. On arrival at Dnn-

oilie other miners got into the firstclass compartment. The number of passengers leaving Greymouth was 18, and leaving Runanga.47. The guard states the number leaving D ( unollie would not have exceeded 100, and that there was ample second-class accommodation on the train. We have had no previous complaints and the manager of the State mines advises that when he has travelled there has always been ample second-class accommodation." The following telegram was also received from the mine manager:— "Men idle to-day. Railway «nard ordered workmen with second-class tickets out of first-class car this morning. They contend there was no other accommodation. Guard says there was ample. All the workmen have

paid a portion of the levy." The reference to the payment of the levy. Ifr. Massey explained, was in connection with Broken Hill, with which they liad nothing to do. He also read an official statement of the working of the State mines, which showed the mines were closed by the action of the men on September 13, 15, 21, 23, and 28. Continuing, Mr. Massey said lie called the attention of Cabinet to the position, and Cabinet had come to the following decision, with which lie. believed the House and the country would agree, because the present state of affairs could not go on much longer:—

"The Government could not admit that the principle of the difference between the State minors and- the R&ihvay Department justified a stoppage of work at. the' mines- If the miners did not resume work within three days, and if the work after resumption did not continue with reasonable expedition, all operations woiild cease until further notice, and the State mines would in the meantime remain closed."

Mr. H. E. Holland (Labor leader): "You are going to cut coal off from the people of New Zealand." ' Mr. Massey said coal had been cut off from the people, and not by the action of tl\e Government. Ho thought everyone must admit that the Government had been extremely patient under the circumstances,-, and he wanted the miners to understand that if the did not get the quantity of coal required, then other steps would have to he taken. Mr. Holland asked ■ what steps the Government had taken to deal with the coal mine owners at Pukemiro, who were compelling the miners to belong ■to unions selected by them. Mr. Massey said he had not received any official communication on this matter, and he knew nothing of it but what J he had seen in tiie newspapers. This, however, he wished to say: That the mine owners would be treated in exactly the same way as the miners. He was asking the Mines Department to furnish him with a report on the matted, and if the mine-owners had broken the law they would bo punished in the sauis' way as if the men had broken, the law.

PREMIER'S ULTIMATUM. WHAT WILL IT PRODUCE? ; . BRINK OF GREAT UPHEAVAL. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter ) Wellington, Last Night.. Mr, Massey's ultimatum to tlw men employed at the State coal mines is expected to have important result? quickly. It has become apparent within recent months that continual stoppages at the coal mines all over New Zealand were not due greatly to local causes. One dispute has succeeded another in such a fashion aB to indicate that the miners were forking on a concerted plan, This certainly lifts been the. Government's reading of the situation.

To the latest stoppage at the State mines the Government's reply is to the effect that the mines will be closed indefinitely if the men do not get back to work under normal conditions within three days. The matter will not end there, since it is may be taken for granted that: ctial mining companies will follow the lead that the Government hes given them. The miners, generally, must work, or stop. altogether; limitation of production by means of the go-slow policy, the irritation strike, and casual stoppages is not to he tolerated any longer. What thfi QUtcotne may be will he

known within the next few days. '' If the miners stop, one of the biggest industrial upheavals in the history of New Zealand will be in sight.

NORTHERN STRIKE# ONE MINE STILL IDLE. By Tslesnpli.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Pukemiro mines are idle again to-day, because no definite •settlement of the question now at issue between the company and the miners has yet been made. Yesterday the members of the Pukemiro Miners' Union undertook to refer the company's demand for a new clause in the agreement concerning the engine drivers at the mine, who are the men most directly affected. It is reported that some of these men have not yet returned to work, so the matter has not yet been finalised. In the meantime, the Taupiri- mines at Huntly and Rotowaro are working. Yeaterday's output was in the neighborhood of 740 tons, and this is considered quite satisfactory for the first day's working. It is expected that tliis amount will be increased considerably to-day. Later. Work was suspended in the Rotowaro mine at 1 p.m. to-day, owint* to a mishap on the running rope way, preventing trucking operations. It is understood that wjork will Presume! tomorrow.

The trouble at the Pukemiro mine will be considered by a meeting of the miners to-morrow morning.