STATE MINE IDLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17179, 24 October 1923, Page 11

STATE MINE IDLE.

TROUBLE OVER DIRTY CLOTHES. (Special to the “ Star.”) GREYMOUTH, October 23. Easily one of tho most peculiar of many reasons that have been advanced for cessation of work is given by the miners in No 1 colliery at the Liverpool Stats mine, which was idle today. It is stated that the men returned home because dirty clothes had been removed from the change house by an attendant. The management admits that the attendant did take this course, but bis action is explained by a regulation respecting the conduct of the change house, eojneh of which are posted up in change and bath houses. It is regulation 150 (c) under the Coal Mines Act, and*reads. “No) clothing or boots shall be kept in any change or bath house during Sunday. Such articles if left there for two consecutive Sunday's may be destroyed by order of the manager.” There also is a notice in each of the houses reading as follows: “Persons using the change house are requested to remove all belongings, except pit boots, pit coat and pit hat at the week-end. Permissible matter must be placed in the proper place above the floor or will be removed. Servants are hereby requested to remove anything but permissible matter from the change house at the week-end. No clothes, etc. will be allowed in the drying shed near the boilers over the week-end.” Although the men are well acquainted with these regulations some persist in leaving all their clothing in change or bath houses for the week-end. On Friday ail attendant discovered that some men had left- clothes lying about the change house, and these lie removed to a place adjoining. When the men found this morning that their clothes were in another room they returned home, and in consequence other miners who had actually gore into the mine to work had to be brought- out again, as there were not sufficient to man the mine. The dirty clothes were brought out and shown to some of the miners, and they had no hesitation in agreeing that the clothes were in a filthy condition. and should not have been left in the change house, and thev atated that the action of the attendant in removing them was justified.