THE COAL DISPUTE
POSITION AT PUKEMIRO
WORK TO BE RESUMED
It is possible that work may be resumed in tho Pukemiro ' miuo to-day, ponding a sitting of the National Disputes Committee to discuss tho status of the engine-drivers. The Minors' Union is demanding that the engine-drivers shall remain members of that union, whioli, they 6ay, is in accordance with the terms of tho national agreement. Whereas the Coal iMine Owners' Association hns proposed that if they, continuo to be members of tho union the federation shall glvo an undertaking that (lie engine-drivers will remain at work to keep the pumps going in the event of a _ disputo ever occurring between the miners and the mine owners. Tho association's proposal has been rejected by tho Pukemiro Miners' Union, and .the suggestion has been made bv Mr. ,r. Arbuckle (secretary of the Miners' Federation) that the National Disputes Committee should bo called together to discuss tho point at issue. In this connection Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of tho Conl Mine Owners' Asfociation, yosterday forwarded to Mr. Arbucthe following letter:—"Dear Sir,—ln confirmation of our conversation by telenlione this morning, I have to advise thaE, subject to operations being resum ed in tho mine tomorrow (Thursday) in tho usual wny, a meeting of file National Disputes Committee can be held that ■ afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. I Rave wired the Pukemiro Company to this effect, and await your confirmation ot the agreement of the Pukemiro Union before making final arrangements for the meoting of the Disputes Committee." In reply, tho Miners' Federation 'hnve advised Mr. Pryor that the Pukemiro Miners' Union is having a meeting this morning regarding the proposal to resume work before tho National Disputes Committee rite to consider tho Pukemiro trouble. This means that tho meeting of the National Disputes Committee will not be able to be held to-dny. For the other side it is contended that tho men struck over the railway dim eulty. During the strike the engine, drivers left work and endangered the mine. The company decided that thero must be some guaranteo for tho safety of the mine in the future. It was felt that no mioh guaranteo existed so long as the engineers remained members oi tho Miners Union. Further, it is assorted that when the men strike the employer has a perfect right to say unon which terms work shall be resumed. Tho men certainly struck over the railway fare issue. ,
COMPANY RELUCTANTLY AGREES 8/ Telegranh-Prosß Association. m Auckland, October G. The Ptikoriiiro miners' dispute is likely to end to-morrow. The decretory of the Coal Mine Owners' Association to-day forwarded a 'telegram to tho Pukemiro Coai Company to the effect that the association had made arranuemcnts with the New_Zealand Miners' Federation, that ii work is resumed bv tho minors to-morrow the Disputes Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon to consider tho mat-' for in dispute. The company, nccording,iv, was asked to ninTSrarraiiiiements foi the resumption of work at the mine. A representative of tho company stated that It was doubttul if matters would be in readiness for a commencement oi work to-morrow. During the cessation oi work a considerable amount of repairs had been carried out at tho mine and some wore not completed. A shortage oi engine-drivers was also anticipated. Tho company, therefore, might have some difficulty in starting work at such short notice. Replying to the telegram from tho Coal Owners' Association, the company expressed dlsapDointmpnt at the decision readied, mid adds: "It is with reluctance that we aro giving instructions to resume work."
In the meanwhile tho situation as to coal supplies in Auckland is unchanged. IVama are- idle, gas is absent, mid many people are unemployed. THE PRESENtTiTUATION SHIPMENTS FROM AUSTRALIA. ' The ooal situation generally ja made easier -by tho announcement that tho Pukemiro miners will resumo work this morning, pending tho consideration of their dispute by the National Disputes' Committee. The shortage of coal in the northern districts is reported to bo acute, however, and oven it' all tho mines an» worked without interruption, somo time must elapse before tho special difficulties arising from tho recent stoppages aro overcome. Shipments of coal from Australia are proceeding at a fairly satisfactory pace. The chief difficulty at present seems to bo the loading of the available ships. The Australian waterside workers aro confining work to certain hours of tho day, and ships are unable to get their cargoes as fast as the coal is available. Tliis trouble is accentuated, as far as New Zealand is concerned, by tho' keon demand for coal within the Common-' wealth.
The State coal miners, who are back at work, are reportod to have averaged a production, of seven tens of' coal per man on Tuesday. The Quantity is interesting na illustrating the ndvantngo that the community would derive if the miners decided to stay at work without stoppages and to produce up to their capacity. The coal production of New Zealand in tho year 1918 averaged 703 tons for each man employed underground, or between. 21 and 3 tons per man per working day. An average production of seven tons per man per Working day would go far towards solving the coal problem. It might not be possible for the miners to maintain such a rato of pTodnotion, but nobody denies that owing to the frequent stoppages and the go-slow policy, the production has been far below tho capacity of the miners during the last year or two. ■
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 10, 7 October 1920, Page 5
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910THE COAL DISPUTE Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 10, 7 October 1920, Page 5
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