COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 4

COAL DISPUTE

HUNTLY MEN RESUME WORK THE AUSTRALIAN COAL Information was received in Wellington yesterday that the men employed at the Huntly and Rotowaru mines had resumed work. These mjen stopped work in support, of tho demand for railway concessions, and thoy have resumed on the old terms, leaving the dispute in tho hands of tho Miners' Federation., The Pukemiro miners, who were concerned in the same dispute, have not resumed work, and it is stated that thby are demanding Hint certain firemen should become members of the union. . No definite official information is available yet concerning the. 100,000 tons of Australian coal reported to have been bought by the. New Zealand Government. The Dominion authorities have been trying to buy this coal, but it appeal's that the negotiations have not reached finality. There is ifeason to believe, however, that the purchase *ill be completed. Some special cargoes of Australian coal are now being loaded. Tho Prime Minister stated in this House of' Representatives last week that he would continue to buy coal abroad wherever it was obtainable, even at very high prices. It is understood that in pursuance of this policy considerable shipments of American coal have been arranged for. The problem is chiefly on» of shipment.

TADPIRI MINERS RESUME

NEW DISPUTE AT PUKEMIRO. 'Br Telesranh—Press Association. s Auckland, September 27. The city was unusually quh>t to-night owing to the cessation of the \tram service, the majority of suburban residents preferring to remain at home rather than risk a long tramp back after theatre or picturfe show. A meeting of miners at Huntly on Saturday afternoon decided to return to work to-day, but another difference of opinion has been brought to a head at the Pukemiro mine, and consequently no work is being done tbtero to-day. This time it is between'thenien and their employers, It appears that thfe enginedrivers working at Pukemiro are wider a different agreement from those employed bv the Taupiri mines at Huntly and Rntowaro. At the Pukemiro mine they iii'B members of the Miners' Union, and wMiscfluently they ceased work with the other-operatives. The result is that no ventilation'or pumping was done at the mine while the strike lasted, and this morning the manager, under instructions from the company, met th'a union executive with a proposal to have this rectified. No finality has yet been reached. ' A statement made this morning by oth- „ nials of the company traverses th>> whole ! position. "The Pukemiro Miners Uiuon. ' called out the engine-drivers, who are I members of the Miners' Union, during tho strike," runs the statement, with an : utter disregard as to what is going to ■ happen to fa company's JK»periar,.not cw- . ing whether ventilation was maintained , or whether water rose in the mine. One of the engine-drivers has now left us, ; ?wo others in addition not having■ returned to work, rendering ™ {fe?X Si ed Wo know we will have dimcultj in ' filiine ft« vacant places, becausei membersof the Auckland Engint-dmers & Trill not join the Pukem.ro Mine» , Union, two men having previously left our employment rather than The comnanv accordingly asks the.miners ui Ct tho following clausj m the canenk „„.„f "Ar, pncine-oriver empioyeo , SC&«X« '"ay be a mem--1 v, of ether the Auckland Engine-driv- ' «S Union or the Huntly Enm«eJme» | £\f tittr'o? "tie ■ SVs^^^edtojoin the o XtXee of freedom of choice hnt wil be gven to engtaedrrwn .in If. matter The Auckland Engine- • Overs' Union is not actively concerned d Ten the first of the renewed output w r present shortage will bo small.

STATE MINES AT WORK AGAIN

By Telccraph-Press Association. Greymouth, September 27. Tho State coal mines were working today. .