THE HUNTLY MINERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 7

THE HUNTLY MINERS.

NO DEVELOPMENTS

THE STOPPAGE CONTINUES.

AIEETING OF MEN TO-MORROW

HUNTLY, Tuesday

No developments have occurred in the dispute between the Northern Aliners’ Union and the mine owners. The stoppage of work at the affected mines continues. Members of the Northern Miners Union will meet to-morrow, when the report of Air V. Curran, the union’s delegate at the recent conference in Christchurch of the Aliners' National Council; will be considered. Work at the Pukemiro and Wilton collieries, which are not affected by the dispute, was continued during the past week.

A STATEMENT DENIED. CONTRACT WITH GLEN AFTON. AUCKLAND POWER BOARD. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Mr W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board, at a meeting on Monday defended the action of the Auckland Electric-Power Board in making a coal contract with the Glen Afton Company, to which,, compensation was ialcr paid by the hoard and the Government on the return of Arapuni power. Air Holdsworth denied a statement by Mr H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of directors of Renown Collieries, that the board could have secured coal at a cheaper rate from the Wilton Company. “ It has been stated the board could have secured coal at a cheaper rate than under the contraot we entered Into,” said Air Holdsworth. “ Air Mao kenzie should have been aware that at the conference of the five coal companies with the board lie was one of those who put the price of slack coal up 40 per cent, on the board. At that time the- -Wilton mine was not in a position to supply our requirements. It was not until we entered the contrace, with the aid of the Government, that the price of coal came down. No doubt our entering into the contract had a good deal to do with the rift in the ranks of the coal circle.” Mr Holdsworth said that as the cost of running the King’s Wharf plant was greater by £52,000 than using Arapuni power, the board had effected a saving of £91,000 by cancelling the contract for the remaining 19 months. In addition it had obtained a contribution from the Government for the King’s Wharf plant as a stand-by station for the province, lifting tho overhead costs on the station from the board’s shoulders.

The general manager, Mr R. H. Bartley, added that if it were again necessary to run King’s Wharf plant it would be operated at the expense of the Government and not of the board.

NO STATEMENT TO MAKE. ATTITUDE OF THE OWNERS. AUCKLAND, Wednesday, In reply to an inquiry last evening, Mr W. D. ilolgate, president of the New Zealand Goal Mine Owners’ \ Association, said lie had no further statement to make. It was learned on Monday that no correspondence has been passing between the two parlies, nor have any conferences been held, MEETING OF OWNERS. TO BE HELD TO-MORROW. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. While meetings of miners are being held at Huntly this afternoon and tomorrow, it is understood that the coal mine owners will meet in Auckland tomorrow.