MINE IDLE FOR DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 9

MINE IDLE FOR DAY

DISPUTE AT ROTOWARO. LATJ-J ARRIVAL FOR WORK. STOP WORK-MEETING HELD. AUCKLAND. June 23. dispute between the management, of Taupiri Coal Mines, Limited, and the men resulted in no work being done at the Rotowaro mine yesterday. Jt is stated that before work com* mcnced for the day a meeting uf miners was held to discuss the unemployment levy. The usual time for starting work is 8 a.m., but the meeting, which began before that hour, extended for a considerable time after work was due to begin. The men were thou informed by the management that there would be no work that day. Explaining the company’s viewpoint, the secretary, Mr. J. Fotheringham, said the men held a stop-work meeting, contrary to all regulations and a promise they had given. All unions in the Waikato had undertaken that stopwork meetings would be held only on< e a month, and then only at 2.30 p. m. Mr. Fotheringham explained that the mine had to be inspected by deputies and by others one hour before the wen went to work. 'Che mine manager had not been notified that a meeting was to be held yesterday morning, and the usual inspection was made, lie waited a reasonable time for the men to come to work and sent tho head lampman home. The company would have boon liable for every man’s life if the mon had been sent in at tho time they arrived tor work and tho company was not. prepared to take that risk. Accordingly, the men were told there would be no work that day. Tho secretary added that the usual inspection of tho mine would be made this morning, after which it would be open to the men to start work «« usual.