STRIKE OF MINERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 7

STRIKE OF MINERS

MILLERTON AND GRANITY MINES • IDLE. By Telegraph—Press Association . Westport, March 27.. The Millerton and Granity coal miners struct this morning. • The mines aro completely idle. Tho Millerton correspondent of the "Westport Times" alleges that the men have had substantial grievances for many months past. A stop-work meeting was held this morning, when Mr. Davidson (president) and Mr. Williams (secretary) addressed the men. It was resolved to send a delefalion to the company's manager, who tfa's available at Granity, but the interview was without result, and a strike was immediately declared. Tho dispute at the Millerton mine is over the question whether tho miners are to he paid a shift for trucking (if they have to do any trucking), in addition to their miners' wages. It is understood that the contention of the com.pany is that the miners are required under their agreement to truck a certain distance, but that the miners refuse to ■do the trucking at all nnless they are also paid for the trucking, STATEMENT BY WESTPORT COAL COMPANY'S MANAGER. By Telegraph—Press A»6M»Uon.* Dunedin, March 27. Mr. Flavell, general manager of the Westport Coal Company, stated to-day that' at tho conference last September an arrangement was come to whereby any dispute that might ariso should be referred to tho District Disputes Committee, and failing that step to the National Disputes Committee, before any cessation of work occurred, consequently any stoppage of work was a distinct, breach of the agreement. Mr. Flavell added that he did not know of any grievance.