PUKEMIRO COLLIERY STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 5

PUKEMIRO COLLIERY STRIKE

, BIGHT ■OF ADMISSION. TO THE WORKINGS. By Teleeranli—Press Association. Auckland, June 12. The strike at the Pukemiro colliery continues. After a meeting of directors of the company yesterday, Mr. Harle Giles stated 1 that he had sent tho following telegram to tho Minister of Mines: —"The company contends that the chief inspeotor has seen tho workings in dispute as now sealed of, and states that in his opinion the workmen's inspectors have no right of admission to these workings. Is this bo?" The Under-Secretary to ihe Mines Department replied as follows:—"Tho Minister of Mines asked me to reply to your telegram. Tho facts are the Supremo Court has already decided that old workings are not part of mine, and consequently are not required to bo inspected. The management need not therefore direct the deputy or underviowor to inspect them unless danger is apprehended, and no one is allowed to enter any part of the mino that has not been previously •inspected by the deputy, so that workmen's inspectors arc excluded, unless preceded by the deputy. If, howover, tho company directs tho deputy to inspect them, there are no objections to tho workmen'?! inspectors following, after he has reported all safe."

Mr. Giles has stated that,tho foregoing endorses the company's right in having refused admission to the workings in dispute. Mr. Giles is proceeding to Hunt, ly this evening to interview representatives of tho union to-morrow mornin?, mid put before them proposals niado l>v the company.