WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10449, 1 May 1912, Page 1

WORK AND WAGES.

MINERS ON STRIKE. TROUBLE AT GREEN ISLAND. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 30. The trouble between the miners and the proprietors of Christie's coal mine at Green Island was renewed to-day, when operations were suspended. At the time of the previous ■ trouble the men agreed to resume work on' conditions that the roads were regraded. It is stated that the men complained last Wednesday that they could not truck and that some of them were knocked up and unable to work. On Thursday representations were made to the manager, who replied that he thought the cost of repairs would be too heavy, during the day the general manager and others inspected the mine and agreed to erect jigs, which were to be put up within six or eight days. The men agreed to continue work until the jig.was erected, considering that that would settle all disoutes.

Yesterday the men were informed that it was impossible to keep the road in order for the jig and the erection would involve the placing of another Is per. ton on the cost of production. Further representations were made to the management, and general manager (Mr Christie) said that it was impossible to put in a jig as the cost would be too great and the road could not be kept for it. 1 The men decided that it was impossible for them to truck and road, and that the mine should remain idle till the promise Ho erect a jig was carried out. The same . deputation waited on Messrs Hill and Christie this morning, and Mr Hill, the mine manager, -answered that he would "put bush in mouth of her," a miners' phrase for blocking up the mouth of the mine. No satisfactory arrangement was come to, and the mine remains idle. Mr Robert Hill, the nfine manager, Btated that on further complaints being received from the men, he and Mr W. L. Christie went down the mine and decided to place a jig on one of the headings, but when Mr James Christie, the consulting engineer, who was then absent, returned, he said that the scheme was impracticable, and it was abandoned. The road about which the men were complaining as having too severe a gradient, had been used for three years, during which time it had improved, and it was a peculiar thing that was only at the present time they started to comnlain.

The men held a meeting this evening and decided to do nothing further but await developments. The following resolution was carried :—" That this meeting considers that the_ men cannot truck and road, and until the jig is put there, the mine remains at it is."