COAL STRIKE OVER

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1948, Page 5

COAL STRIKE OVER

Press Assonia.tinn)

Settleiqent iiAfter Long . Discussions

(Per

AUCKLAND, August 1. A settlement has been agreed on by the parties to the Waikato coal mines strike and work will start agam tomorrow morning. This -was announced tonight by the Mining Controller, Mr. CMJI. Benney, after conferences with the deputfieg and mine managers lasting seven hours. The mines so far affected have been Pukemiro, Glen Afton, MacDonaid, Alison, Rotowaro, Renown, Wilton, Benneydale, and Tatu. If a settlement had not been reached tonight the Kamo mine in Northland would also have been made idle by the £eputies stopping work. This would have involved about 100 mine deputies in the strike, about 70 of whom were from the Waikato. The strike begau on Wednesday in support of a demand by the Under ground Officials' Union for the reiustatement of a mine deputy who was disrated because of an alleged breacli of the Coal Mines Aet. The agreenient between the deputies and mine managers reached tonight, provided that the deputy be re-employ-ed at the Rotowaro eolliery under the gtatus of deputy aud be employed wliere required by the manager. The right to take proceedings for an alleged broach of the Coal Mines Aet by the Inspector of Coal Mines, could in no wav be interfered with. Tf after proceedimg for a breacli of the Coal Mines Act, the f manager desired to pursue the question of the competency of the man to continue to act as a deputy, an.v further action would be taken under the Coal Mines Aet, 1925. Mr. Benney and Mr. A. Prendeville. a mehiber of the Coal Mines Council, flew from Wellington to Rukuhia this morning and then travelled to Huntly by ear with Mr. M. J. Hughes. Superintendent of Mines at Huntly. They acled as arbitrators between the jiarties in a long drawn out but successful attempt to bring about a resumption of work. Mr. A. C. Baxter, M.P. for Raglan, attended most of the discus sions. The negotiations proceeded from 2 p.m. until 10 o'clock tonight when Mr. Benney announced that a settlement. had been reached. He added that an announcement to this effect wouM 1 e broadcast to warn miners that work would begiri tomorrow. Mr. .1. Lister, president of the Underpround Officials' Union; confirme I that a satisfactory settlement had been reached. ''This is very gratifving news, " said Mr. T. Hall, president of the Northern Miners' Union. "Everv effort is being made to get the mines going again tomorrow. Hawever, it is very problematical how manv will get to know of the settlement tonight."