More State Miners Idle On West Coast

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 6

More State Miners Idle On West Coast

(P-A.) Gieymouth, June 29. employees at the Wallsend State mine, numoenng about 140, joined tne 550 idle miners in the district today, following a meeting which, it is stated, did nuc concern itself with the broader issue in the Runanga dispute. No official statements have yet been maae, but it is understood the dispute concerns the “dust time” clause in the agreement and the recent interpretation of the clause by the Coal Council as it affects certain sections of the Wallsend mine. “Dust” time is similar to “wet” time in that only six-hour shifts are worked in places agreed upon as “dusty.” The Dobson mine was also idle today, due to the “feeder” of gas making conditions dangerous, but work was to be resumed with a back shift late this afternoon. With four big mines in the district all idle today the loss of coal was about 1400 tons, as together Dobson and Wallsend contribute about 600 tons, to the total of 800 tons normally produced by the Strongman and Liverpool collieries. The Strongman and Liverpool miners have now been on strike for seven days, and the loss of coal has reached 5600 tons. There is no indication of a settlement. Mr. W. Purdy, secretary of the Grey miners’ central committee, stated that he had received no communication from the Miners’ National Council, which had been requested to come to the West Coast. It is understood the president and the secretary of the National Council, Messrs A. V. Prendeville and F. Crook, are at Whangarei, but it is hoped by West Coast officials that they will reach Greymouth this week, even if the whole National Council is not assembled.