Mine Idle Over Trivial Matter

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1948, Page 5

Mine Idle Over Trivial Matter

AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. Because the men working at the Alacdonald mine, Huntrv, were dissatisliea ;:t .some delav in the delivery of coat .-old at a reduced rate to a relative of a former mine pjnployee now dead, they stopperl worlc and the mine was idle yesterday. This was stated todav !>y a representative of Dlen Afion Collieries T.td. wiiich operaLes tlu; mine. 1 1 o added: "It is unbelievabie tliat, while Mns country is so sliort of eoal, men can r-ease production over such a triviaJ matter. Delav in the delivery of orders is general today and even sharehoJders in the mine are waiting 18 months tor dcli veries. In mid-Decoml)er the com]>any received an order for onc'ton of coal to be deliverod to a relative of an employee wlio died some months ago. Employees ' coal is sold at 4s a ton and although the person for whom the coal was ordered was not entployed by the company, it was agreed to meet tlie ie(|uest. A truck ot coal was duly consigned to a Huntly carrier with. i)istructions to deliver one ton to tlie person referred to. As the coal had mu been delivcred, yesterday moniing, a stopwork nieeting was held and ttie men ceased work. Later in the day the carrier delivered tlie order but as the bin was already full of coal, he was asked to deliver it in a fortnight. The miners returned this morning, resttming work after a sliort meeting.