THE STATE COAL MINE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 703, 31 December 1909, Page 6

THE STATE COAL MINE

THE PRESENT POSITION "* i f WHAT MAT HAPPEN IN f THE, NEW 4 i YEAH ( . ■ There was a vagne rumour, circulating >'.through tho city yesterday to tho 1 effect < ? tl at , the coal troubles on the West Coast ai« not yet at and it,is doubtful. ;c.;KlJ(.tho.-.mission',of-.thecMinistcr,;for-, Mines (tjio Hon It MTCenzie), 'who left "for the coast via Christchurch last o\ emng,» i?-'w:ill efEect.a ssttlement-without-concedirig *~ tie ■ whole demands of the , Stato coal-, at\ Pointy Elizabeth Tho tenor «.*;off. the-report was that:" if- these demands not conceded," the men would not >>4return ■ to' 1 work after'.-tho holidays "f (January 4) 'Whether th> l mere t rumour or a decision of ths minors' ei ecutive can onh bo, conjectured In the sss'iqoantimo,: tho ■: will 'have -j had' V time to visit tho Stato mine at Point ws-Blraabethiand other:>minos in<the .vicinity; tci compare tho wording conditions and *■ come to some definite decision. r" 11 Mr Mlienzio informed Dominion ( * reporter that ho would probably bo 1 for.:about; a .fort-v ;irjnight.'T,.En > route:, from,- Chnstchurch to> . ' the coast, he intended to inspect the railway construction works and sastheiObra tunnel:: made arrangements to mnke' tho'trip a'week boforn, was delaved owing to tho session rf i not cowing to an ena as early as was axpected When-tho representatives of tho miners «t the btate mine upon Mr ago,'ivhe'' assured, them that ha would personally vi it the rtnno after the session, and inquire into lil-tho complaints winch had -been. l made. ? i«i He <wasv (he;: <»ntinT!ed)'. i(TOito' prepared kjgtto'. givoithe men; atfPoint*Elizabeth :con- . not ? less : favourablo/than, .thoso > now.i obtaining; at.thef other "mines; .Under , ays the;, circumstances;,'the ■ men ireturned to fSirworthTinder > exisbng: (.conditions s pending * * the visit of tho Minister ( !■„ the m«n<:wiU. abide'by the r. r "dccision: ofi tho. Government = after' Mrse MTKenzio's:liVisit"jasfl(considered" av-moot s Sunt viniusually,••well-informed,-circles: trrmg -.the .interni.w, ibefcween the'miners : and the Prime Minister and Minister ?;for Mims, there wits . some very plain talk,7 especially on the part ot the re presentatives of the miners Indeed, the ifeimpressjontcreafeduntthe'minds-of- more 1 t fews-thani oneomember: ofiiPaHiamenfr present wa that the Government wonld have to -:-Miaccede to; the' whole ;of >■.the miners- de- : * mauds, if they wished to keep tho State /s mine going M'Kenzie was quostionedyesterday. with .rpfercnco -io : tho rumour that . * m * ro 'hle was not unlikely , lo this Mr Mlvenzie replied """I.have heard noth ng to that effect" » iou ixpect th.it yonr mission will ri::ii-;W K succe6sfulr" .was'apother : question, put by tho bresSman r , ' , Mr , IfKenzie answered "I expect that „it will" , j '' ' Inqnines/wero prosecuted in the city by * * jDoaamoN i repn seniative amon? peoplo with .the coalvbusiness on! • *3 stating that tj;e trouble at the State s JJ 3 ne giw only ia abeyance, and that iif c * the m"is demands were not conceded 'in was every probability of tho r miners 'rofos-ng to turn to after, the holidays, and, further, that if that proved i C't!®?,the,;case,;:it.:'wouldi noti surprise-* themenin 1 , another mine = J Grey Valley went out m sympathy with > t th© State collier The po \tion stated v.wss i. one: of/greati delicacy,- § 5 j the State Department would also thafca.ift they conceded asked in respect to this v.ork that ( it 4d. >por •> iton- vcxtra,' but» between 9d and Is l:Mr£tbnr extra .on tho prCKent cost of prwhiciion, 4 i owinp to the number o£ extra hands that --. .would have.to .be employed - » ' -- Anothor aufhority was strongly ol opmion that trouble was brewing Speaking il from a careful tudy of the position, he expressed „ tho viejv that the Minister vSiS.eonldvnotfConcede all,;thatithe men asked-' Effli,and*that,; they..would: put:,down"their tools k , before thev would take anything W Ho "•vre<rardjrf the recent withdrawal of the Seddtfiiville .stato..Coal Mino workers. from' ■ , ' the federations as a sign tha f thei fore ' L aaw a stride, and were determined not to -» participate in it fg r ===== * (