THE COAL MINES DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 281, 16 August 1918, Page 4

THE COAL MINES DISPUTE

MEN LEAVE MATTER IN HANDS OP FEDERATION OF LABOUR. . By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth, August IS. The men at the Slate mine hold a stop-work meeting on Wednesday, when the dispute with the coal owners was fully discussed. The position was considered in all its phases, and it was finally decided to leave tho matter entirely in tho hands of the Federation of Labour. The men resumed work this morning as usual, and will await 'urlher developments. A 6top-work mooting at Blackball decided on the same lines. TROUBLE OVER A DEPUTY. Westport, August 15. The fact thnt the bins oiro .full and tha shortage of shipping are responsible for tho Westport Coal Company's mines being idlo to-day. The Stockton mines aro idlo owing to a dispute over a deputy who was asked lo do work that lie considered 'to be outside his duties—namely, cutting tho tops off mining props. Hu refused to do the work, and was dismiss, od. The management considered that tho deputy had not sufficient work, and it was justified in asking him to do thtl prop-cutting. Other deputies declined to t'csuiuo "w irk until tho dismissed nwn was reinstated. • , It is understood in connection wiui tha stop-work meeting of miners (hat .there was a majority in favour of leaving tin" matter ill tho hands of tho federation lo tako what action it considered advisa'blo. Details of tho voting aro not available.

At tho present time stocks of coal in Wellington aro practically non-existent, as, owing to the aggravated shortago experienced throughout the winter, cm opportunity to accumulate stocks has not presented itself. 'I'll® chief utilities would suffer almost immediately wero further supplies cut off altogether. Iho tramways and electric lighting pouei houses have sufficient coal in hand to maintain services for a few weeks, and tho Wellington Gas Company would almost immediately have to undertako drastic economies, which would cause inconvenienco and hardship in many quarters. It is understood that the meat freezing companies of Wellington would bo ablo to stand a limited siege.