STRIKE AT PUKEMIRO COAL MINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 6

STRIKE AT PUKEMIRO COAL MINE

'•INDUSTRIES SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. 1 By Teletrrn.ph-Presa Aieocintlon. Auckland," .1 u.ne 6.- : The striko at the Pubemiro coal mine, about nine miles from lliiull.T,. is slill unsettled. The secretary of the coinpanv, Mr. White, slated (o-day that tho men were still absent from work, awl had notified the company that they would not resume until the matter in dispute had been sett.lcd. _ Regarding the action of the men : in ceasing work,' the ' (secretary staled that had the miners adopted the proper course of referring tlie dispute to the Local Disputes Committee, Ihe constituting of which was agreed to 'by the Federation of Labour, the mine would still be working and the dispute could have been settled ■ by the committee. The position ;;ow M that tho miners' had couimitled a bre,iclj of: the.: award, and, it remained to. -M ■seen what plane. Tlie stoppago of operation's at'the mine, ! the output of which"amounted 'o between 400 and 500 ions daily, is.likely to prove disastrous to a number of industries. At present.the total output of the various mines in the Auckland district' goes straight into, consumption,, and no re-sorvo-,stocks, are available. Pnkemiro conl is largely, .used in Auckland-factor-ies. and only' a. few which are carrying on essential industries can be supplied from, other sources. Even this, it i 6 slated,'can only be done by the restriction or supplies to other industries. •• Mr. -.While 'stated that as a result, of.the .strike.-a number of- city factories would almost immediately have, to cease : operations, and; a number of freezing works and dairy factories .in • iho Norllv Island iron id be similarly affected. -Even with no diminution of supplies these concerns wereworking without any reserve supplies of coal, and the sudden stoppage meant a . serious dislocation .of business.