SETTLEMENT OF STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1931, Page 11

SETTLEMENT OF STRIKE

, PROSPECT AT HIKURANGI MINERS APPROACH COAL OWNERS. CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. There is every likelihood of a conference taking place to-morrow between the directors of Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company, Limited, and representatives of the miners at the company’s Hikurangi colliery with a view to arriving at a settlement of the strike, which has been- in progress since last Wednesday. Following a suggestion made by the inspector of Mines, Mr. W. Barclay, that th© union should secure the safety of, the mine by permitting the safety men to return-to work, and also a sufficient number of miners to keep tire mine clear : of water and produce enough coal for the requirements of the boilers, a' meeting of the men was held, as a result of which th® secretary of the Miners’ Union at Hikurangi sent a ' message to’the company asking if the directors would meet the men. Th© company in reply despatched a telegram this afternoon stating that the directors will be prepared to meet the union’s officials in Auckland to-morrow.

In the meantime the administrative staff at tlie mine is doing its best to keep the boilers. going and continue pumping in tire effort to keep the inflow of water in cheek pending the. outcome of to-morrow’s conference.