20 Men To Shift From Blackball To Rewanui

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 12

20 Men To Shift From Blackball To Rewanui

(N.Z. Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, May 14.

Blackball miners today agreed in principle to the transfer of 20 men from the township’s mines to Rewanui, to help in stepping up the output of gas coal urgently needed this winter. This was a recommendation of the Miners’ National Council to a joint meeting of both the Blackball and Roa Unions this morning. This means that the miners’ national officers can now enter into discussions with the Mines Department on the question of transport or accommodation.

Representatives of the miners who attended the conference with the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) and Federation ot Labour executive members on Friday, reported to- the meeting. The national president (Mr A. V. Prendiviile) of Dunedin, reported on discussions he had had with the Minister. At Friday’s conference, the Minister had given an assurance that the department would consider any proposal advanced by the miners, and that he, or officers of the department would be prepared to meet further deputations from the miners and Federation of Labour to discuss the Blackball problem, the miners’ national secretary (Mr J. White) said tonight. A meeting has been ar-

ranged for tomorrow morning between union representatives, the district manager of Mines (Mr J. Glendinningi and local mine managers. This meeting is for the purpose of having a general discussion on the situation, as it affects all district mines. Vr Prendiviile assured the miners’ meeting today that efforts would be continued in an endeavour to find a satisfactory solution to the problem and expressed the opinion that a lasting solution could be found in the development of Smoke-O, and the building of a briquetting plant in Blackball. These are matters at present under consideration by the miners, the Federation of Labour and the Mines Department