STATE COAL MINE DISPUTE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12941, 4 December 1909, Page 7

STATE COAL MINE DISPUTE.

A MINER'S VIEWS.

Westport Men Indignant.

General Strike Unlikely.

(Per United Press Association.) WESTPORT, December 4

A working, miner acquainted with the conditions says that the miners of the "Wibtport district are very indignant at the Government because it will not conceue at Greymouth the game conditions as prevail at Mokihmui and all over this district. "At the same time," he says, "I do not think there will be a general strike. A general ballot would have to be taken. One never knows how a ballot would go, as the miners in this district feel that any reduction in the tonnage Xifcte atf tbe Crrcj- would sooner or later affect the misers here." The. authority in question further states that the annual conference of the Miners' Federation asked the Hon. B. McKenzie to abolish trucking by hewers at the State mine, and he said it was a matter for the local management and men to settle. The miner interviewed denies that trucking TffOUld cost i 54,000. Further, it would be impossible, with one man working at the face, for the miners to earn 14s 5d a day. He claims that the conditions and remuneration are better in the Westport district .mines than at the Grey State.