THE COAL TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2 October 1920, Page 7

THE COAL TROUBLE

WHOLE INDUSTRY THREATENED,

"FREE TO ACT IN ANY MANNER"

FURTHER STATEMENT BY THE FEDERATION

'. Grave trouble continues to threaten in . connection with the coal mining industry .of tho Dominion, and in respect of tho Pukeiniro disputo, which is at present the chief bono of contention, pros'pects of a settlement are said to bo very remote. As previously chronicled the negotiations for a settlement of the Pukerniro dispute felL through, and the latest reports givo no indications of the deadlock lifting. Tho directors of the wino insist on tha engine-drivers being five from tho Miners' Union, holding 'that otherwise in event of a strike tho safety of tho mine would be endangered. The miners refuse to give' way on the point, and there the matter stands.

In a statement issued to tho Press yesterday afternoon Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary oi the Miners' Federation, accuscd the owners of persisting in pin-pricking methods. Traversing the assertion of tho mine manager at Taratu published in yesterday's Dominion, he said that ho (Mr. Arbuokle) was definitely informed that back pay had not been paid to all the men who were entitled to receive it. In thi9 connection ho pointed-, to the surface mon and stated that it was worthy of note that the manager had made no- reference to these men. Another point, was that certain retrospective pay duo to the men at Kiripaka under Mr. Hally's decision had oeen withheld. . As to tho last stoppage at the State mines Mr. Arbuckle said he had definite information to tho effect that on Monday there 1 was not sufficient second-class accommodation 1 for all the passengers. It was a '/wet morning. On Tuesday the weather was fine, and 22 men stood on the platform' because -there was insufficient actrommodatioii in second-class cars. The Pukemlro Dispute. - . Coming to Pukeiniro, Mr.. Arbuckle quoted in justification of the action taken bv the union a decision of ,the National Disputes Committee in reference to tho engine-drivers at Hikurangi. : The committee decided that new enginedrivers starting work at.Hikurangi coal mine must become members of the Miners' Union and remain members of such union. The local agreement 'at Pukemiro makes provision for engine- . drivers. • -Mr. Arbuckle stated that he was forwarding tho following letter to Mr. Pryo;: . "Dear Sir,—l -will be pleased to have .your executive's decision in regard to the. action of tlie Pukemiro Company in forcing engine-drivers out .of the Miners' Union. I must draw your attention to clause 19 (preference), which provides for those men to become members', and remain members, of the Miners' Union, ' and ; if the company still , insists on their leaving the Miners' Union we must treat it as a breach of the . national agreement'and consider ourselves free to act in any ; manner we consider fit. Tourj faithfuljy (Signed) J. Arbuckle." ' POSITIONIT~PETONE : STOCKS ALMOST DEPOSED. The 'Petone Borough Counril ha 1 ? received a communication from the Coal Trade Committee to the effect that inview of the diminished' outmit : at the State -coal mines, the. Coal Trade Committee is unable to guarantee that sufficient sunplies of coal will be forthcoming : to enable the council to continue acti-. vities.

In conversation with a DOMINION 1 reporter yesterday morning, the .gas manager (Mr. H. ,Appleyard) stated that .tlie coal in sight-would keen the works going until Tuesday next. Failing additional suppliesthere would-be no gas.after that date. ' In the' all coke 6ales have beim suspended. ' : 1 . .

AUCKLAND'S SERIOUS PLIGHT

UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASING.

By Teloeraph—Press Association. . ' - Auckland, October 1. i lie position in Auckland in regard to coal.is unchanged, to-niglit/audtta city oontinues "without trams or gas services. ;A serious disorganisation of business lias resulted, with consequent unemployment. One boot faotory dispensed witli all the mala hands to-night. Several biscuit and confectionery factories have-.-closed down owing to lack of•_ coke. One factory paid off 80 hands to-night, while another has with the services of all except tbla married men.

Although a " number of the leading restaurants are not entirely dependent on gas for cooking, many cheerless dinners were served in the city to-day, Mr. P. ITally, who has been visiting Auckland, was at Pukfcmiro. unofficially to-dair. Ho states that from information m his possession, although coming from only one of the parties to the dispute, he is of the opinion that the prospects of the difficulties being overcome are encouraging. .

THE PUKEMIRO DISPUTE

COMPANY HOLDS TO ITS DEMANDS.

By Telegranh—Press Association.

' . ~ Auckland, October 1. liiere is- little real easement of. the coal faming in Auckland, for none of the black fuel is yet in sight from AVestport or Newcastle, or from anywhere else, in t? m ■"• 18 Waikato, where work in •?, ■™}P. lr i mines proceeds normally with a fair output, ,But Pukemiro is still idle, and Mr. J. OBrien, North Island representative of the New Zealand Coal Miners' e ? e £ ll .' :lve >. as hinted at the possibility of this mine being declared "black." Tho ; position of affairs there shows, little alteration since yesterday. Tho company holds to its demands for the clause giving engine-drivers. the option of being of other besides the Miners' Union/, and tho Pukemiro Miners' Union has Tofused tho demand by a large majority. Mr. O'Brien states that three of the engine-di'ivtrs were present ak the meeting, and when asked whether they desired to remain members of tljie union th'oy replied that they would abido by the decision of the whole union. A secret ballot was taken and tbfe vote went overwhelmingly against tho drivers' secession. The statement of Mr. Arbuckle, secretary of tlio Coal Miners' Federation, to tnei effect that the companies had flouted the national agreement, is answered by .tlfe Pukemiro Company this morning. The clause in the agreement, which became operative at tho beginning of April, reads: "It is agreed by both parties to th/ ; above proposals that no strikes, lockout, or "go-slow," or any unnecessary stoppage of work, shall take place until the matter or matters in dispute have. been dealt with as provided above" (by reference to the National Disputes Committee). The company aslts who has been flouting this' clause, and joints out.; that since tho agreement cam; into, operation 6ix months ago the Pukemiro miners had lost ten days by strikes and "stop-work" meetings, and hnd operated one "go-slow" prior to September G, when tho present trouble began. The compauy referred, also, to clause 28 of the agreement/which providt-s that no workman shall absent himself, except through-ac-cident or sickness, for more than two days without notifying the mine manager, otherwise lie may bo replaced. The company lias' no intention of operating this clause, font it is determined to hold to the demand for a clause, for a separation of th/> from the Miners' Union on the ground that at present the mine itself is always liable to damage when tho miners cease work. It is further stated that thj* engine-drivers in the employ of the Taupiri Company are not members of the Miners' Union. .

SUPPLIES IN CANTERBURY SHORTAGE BECOMING ACUTE. Bt Teleeraoh—Presi Association. Christchurch, October 1. In response to a. telegram from the Auckland Industrial Association with reference to tho coal shortage problem, Mr. .Tenkin, president of tho Canterbury Industrial Association, telegraphed to the Prime Minister that many mdustrlea in