THE PAPAROA STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 71, 18 December 1918, Page 4

THE PAPAROA STRIKE

MEN OUT FOR EIGHT WEEKS. There is still a complete suspension of work at the Paparoa Coal Company's mine, near Greymouth. The men at this mino have now been out for eight weeks, and the prospects do not point to a resumption of work until the New Year. Th* trouble originally arose through a difference in the number of men who should work the pillars. The mine manager wished to employ one man where the men thought two should be employed, and, in another instance, ths men thought one should be employed where two were Being worked. The whole matter was cfuite trifling. After that there was argument about, working a back shift. The men -said there was insufficient ventilation, and on experts bein? called in to settle the point, it was found that the ventilation was ample for double Hie men proposed to be employed. The rornpnny offered to submit all points to the Disputes Committee, but as the expert evidence on which the committee must draw its conclusion had been siven,. 'inothiiifr came of it. t The men would not listen to reason. They siinplv would uot resume work. Now the Labour De■parlment is prosecuting the , men for finking. It is understood that the officials of tlm TYiderntion of Lnbour have endeavoured to* fret the me-n to return to work, but so\ far without success. .