MINING DISPUTE ON WEST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 6

MINING DISPUTE ON WEST COAST.

MINISTER IS ASKED TO TAKE UP CASE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 31. - In the House of Representatives the Leader of the Labour Party asked the Minister of Mines whether he would take immediate action to ensute that the Blackball coal mine would be kept working. Mr Holland said that the miners had been locked out for ten weeks, though they had offered to ration the work. The existence of a small township depended on the mine. The Hon A. J. Murdoch explained that the mine was a private one owned by a private company. Furthermore, the owners contended that there was no lockout as they already had made propositions to the miners, but these had not been accepted. However, the minister said that he would be prepared further to approach the owners and ask them to give the matter further consideration with a view to seeing whether a settlement was possible.

RUNANGA CASE. (Special to the “Star.”) GREYMOUTH, March 31. A meeting of the State Miners’ Union held last night decided unanimously ’to adhere to the former decision, insisting on the engine drivers, over whom the dispute has arisen, becoming members of the Miners’ Union. It was also resolved to telegraph to the minister, requesting the Undersecretary of Mines to proceed to Runanga immediately to endeavour to effect a settlement. The State mines were not working today. ______________