COAL STRIKE SPREADS

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1948, Page 5

COAL STRIKE SPREADS

Jress Association)

Two Further Huntly Mines Now Idle

(Per 1

AUCKLAND, July 30. The strike of deptities at the Huntly coallields, which began oii AVednesday, spread to the two State mines near Benneydale and Ohura, south of To Kuiti today. It is .nndersrood that oflficials at these mines .have struek in sympathy with the Underground Workers' Union at Huntly. Although only11 deputies and two underviewers at the southern fields are direcUy affected, another 120 nyiiers have been thrown out of work because- there is nobody to carry out safety inspections under the mining regulajions. A deadlock was reached today in the dispute at Huntly. The deputies still demand the reinstatement of the meinber of thein union who was dismissed by Taupiri Coal Mines Ltd. for an al Leged breaeh of the safety regulations.The owners, on the other hand, reiter ate their offer to pay the man eoncerned 'his full deputy 's wage pending a settlenient and to accept the decision of a magistrate on tlie* legality or otherwise of kis action. This offer has been refused by the Underground Workers' Union. Developments in the dispute wero discussed at a meeting of the executive of the Nortliern Miners' Union this af'ternoon. The meeting lasted aboin an hour after which meinbers refused to make a statement. It was consid" erod that tlie time was inopportnne for the executive to comment publicly on the position as so far nothing had been said or dpne directly affecting tlu AEiners' Union.