REEFTON MINING TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1444, 20 May 1912, Page 8

REEFTON MINING TROUBLE.

MKN WtLb NOT V/OHK* POPPKItt HINCIiK-ilAiNiJl/S). iHy Telecrayh—Aß>uclnUon.i Flection, May 19. The Kccfton troiihlo has acumen groat proportions, nnu in almost universal on the field. Almost, all tho.se on the shift yesterday in tho Knergetio mine who were ashed t,o work the Waugh poppers singlehanded refused, and were given their wages: some men were actually at the face, and had lo return to * lie *haft. The same condition of thing* prevail'- at the Iflaekwatcr and (jlobu mine.- - . A meeting of the limngahua Miners' Union hint night decided to abide by the Arbitration Court award, and they am confident, they are in the -right. Kaeh man win instructed, if not yet dismissed, to go to work to-morrow as usual, and be dinmisled for not working the popper. The task asked by the companies is considered to interfere with the Arbitration Oourt award, and the men will appeal to the law of tiie land. The men dismissed from the Ivnenrclic yesterday marched down in ni.-,r-k military order, singing, but the full gravity of the position is fuJJ'y recognised. The Ncep-it-Hark rniu-e is pot affected, as two men are still working the popper. Popper* are rjot in vogue at, tSie Bit? Kiver, and oilier small mines are unafTceU'd. A rumour states that a few men are not. abiding: by the decision of the union, but v.-ill not turn up. The men are behaving very admiral)]}-, but there is 4 a feeling against the Consolidated Group of mines. It is generally conceded tna.t the present iot of men are practically skilled miners, and the output of t.he mines wan never better per man. The man feel it vory aoreiv that when they worked for the company on day wagos through the contract difilculty, the company should thus treat them. They were unsympathetic with the Wnihi strike. As far s,s is known thev had no trouble with the company, and this, though expected to take plane sooner or later, came like a bolt from the bine.

Prospecting ventures will take a few men, but the majority will suffer greatly. It is Hint 180 miuere have bc6n < dismissed at those mines, and more dismissals are cjpcotcd to-morrow.