THE MINING TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 6

THE MINING TROUBLE

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth, May 25. The "go-slow" policy of the coalminers has jfiven place to the best efforts, with the result that records have been established for the number of men now employed; so much so that last week, owinjc to the want of shipping, enforced .idleness resulted at some mines.

The miners' delegates who returned from the Wellington conference met their unions at Blackball, Paparoa, and the State mines. After deliberation it was resolved to accept separate agreements between each miue-owner and its union until after the war. This means that the separate unions will act outside the Federation. At the same time the' delegate are reported to have informed their unions that the Federation Executive trust that individual unions will arrange terms without any further strikes.

It is plain from this that the bulk of the miners have taken' definite steps to show their loyalty nnd are determined that the country shall not be held up for want of coal. SIR JAMES ALLEN'S OPINION OF THE MINERS. Christchurch, May 21. Sir James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister, states that the West Coast miners probably will continue work. He thinks they will play the same to the end. Arrangements have' been made for-import-ing about 30,000 tons of coal a month from Newcastle, but absolute necessity for economy still exists.