THE OHAI COAL STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 19, 24 January 1933, Page 8

THE OHAI COAL STRIKE

ANOTHER MINE CLOSED ■HIRE AND FIRE” CLAUSE MEN OBJECT TO IT [ Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Jan. 23. The latest development in the Ohai coal strike is that to the list of mines which have now been idle since August 17 last, namely, Linton, Warakei, Mossbank and Black Diamond, is now added the name of the Black Lion. This mine, which closed down on Friday as the result of the failure or the owner and men to come to a settlement, did not reopen this morning. The miners worked last week under notice to see if some agreement could be reached, but a conference with the owner (Mr. Peter McSkimming) on Wednesday proved a fruitless one. He is stated to have refused to engage men under the old conditions, and the miners lodged an objection to the “hire and fire” clause under the provisions of which the mine manager is given the undisputed right to engage or dismiss men at his own discretion. This clause has beet the cause of the trouble at ether mines, the contention of the men being that it should be struck out and that provision should be made for sharing- the work. It is also understood that the owner of the Black Lion mine proposed the reduction of fid a ton in amount of coal hewn, thus reducing the rate fiom 5s 4d to 4s lOd for solid working and from 4s ICd to 4s 4d for pillar working. Negotiations, however, did not proceed as far as this. The closing dowjß of the Black Diamond leaves only the Birchwood mine working. There is no “hire and fire” clause in its agreement, which will continue in existence until January. 1934, although a redaction of 2d pel* ton was recently accepted by the