DISMISSAL OF MINERS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 7

DISMISSAL OF MINERS

ANXIETY IN THE WAIKATO STATE INTERVENTION ASKED. i MINERS SUGGEST CONFERENCE.

, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, Dec. 19.

At a mass meeting of coal miners at Huntly to-day in connection with the dismissal of 300 miners, a resolution was passed urging upon the Government to intervene, insisting that the dispnssal notices be withdrawn and that the work be rationed as in the past. . The meeting decided to call a conference of mine owners, members of. Parliament and miners. FALLING DEMAND FOR CO AL. EXPLANATION BY THE OWNERS. The decision of the Waikato coalmine owners to reduce the number of men employed in the mines owing to the falling off in the demand for coal was made known to the men on Friday. A certain number of men will be paid oft at the four mines m the Huntly district, the total affected being about 300. The notices of dismissal issued at the Taupiri Coal Company’s mines at Rotowaro numbered 93, at Pitkemiro 90, at Glen Afton 70 and at the Renown mine 4 °When the men arrived at thejßotowaro mine on Friday morning'and the announcement of the proposed dismissals was made, they held a stop-work, meeting and the mine was rendered idles for the day, the miners returning to their homes. Over 1000 men are employed at the four mines. ■ “j rgret to say that on account oi the depression in the coal trade arid consequent over-production it has. , been found necessary by the Waikato, coal companies to reduce hands, said Mr. W. D. Holgate, president of the Coal Owners’ Association. ‘‘Some of the ffiines have been working on an average oi only two days a week, for wme time. This method is most unprofitable, it is unfortunate in times like these when so many men are unemployed, that we are compelled, to adopt the only economic method of working the. mines. Bv reducing hands the companies will be enabled to work at least four or five days a week. If the method we are now taking were not adopted it would be possible that some of the mines .would have to close down permanently.