ANOTHER WAIKATO COAL STRIKE IS LOOMING

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 August 1950, Page 5

ANOTHER WAIKATO COAL STRIKE IS LOOMING

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PALThree days after the end of a monthlong strike a new dispute, believed to be over rates of pay, has arisen on the Waikato coalfields. The Rotowharo mine was Idle all day today. The men did not start work, returning home after holding a meeting for half an hour at th® Rotowaro railway station. It is understood the miners are claiming an additional rate of pay for separating fire clay and stone from hewn coal before loading it on to skip, at the mine face. About two or three pairs of men are involved in the dispute, which i« stated to centre around interpretation of an agreement. Meanwhile, since work was resumed in the Waikato mine" t>n Tuesday, after a long stoppage because of the dismissal of a trucker at Pukemiro. Auckland’s coal supply has beer, graduallv building up to its normal level. Industries and domestic coal suppliers were optimistic that the replenishing of stocks would continue steadily, although it might take mofe than a week to catch up fully with the losses of the last few weeks.