GOING SLOW

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 98, 19 January 1921, Page 6

GOING SLOW

MINERS REVERT TO OLD TACTICS OWNERS’ EXECUTIVE TO MEET The "go-slow” policy is in operation again at nearly all the eoal mines. throughout New Zealand. The stop-work meetings of miners held at the various.mines on Monday accepted in most cases a suggestion that production should ba reduced as a protest against the alleged victimisation of the man Henderson at the Blackball mine. ThesglneefTngs were, held at the instruction of the executive' of the Miners’ Federation. The officers of the Federation state that the Dominion’s coal supply will be cut down until Henderson is reinstated by the Blackball Company.' Henderson, it will be remembered, was dismissed on a. charge of having used bad language to a deputy. The Prime Minister, who met representatives of the miners and of the mine- 1 owners on Afonday, has suggested the appointment of a committee of two repre- 1 sentatives from each side, to consider the dispute and make a recommendation for its settlement. The executive of tho Mine Owners’ Association will meet within the next few days and will discuss this suggestion, 'lhe executive of the Miners’ Federation, it appears, was not willing to postpone the limitation of production until this effort at conciliation had been made. If the miners persist in their present attitude, the general public will quickly fed the effect of the reduced production of coal. The available stocks of coal are not large. The effect of the long period of “go slow” at the mines last year has not "been overcome, and although the consumption of coal is not as great at present as it would be in the winter months, increased economy will be necessary. The extent to which the reduction of production is proceeding will not be made clear until returns from the mines become available. There are indications that the miners are cutting their output, and incidentally their wages, ny. about one-third. A RIFTINTHELUTE KAITANGATA MEN NOT PULLING TOGETHER. Hr Telerrauh— Press Association. Dunedin, January 18. Another "stop-work” meeting was held at the Kaitangala mine this morning 7 o’clock. The result was practically the same as at the meeting held the previous morning. The meeting finished at <.39, when the management, refused to allow the men to take their lamps and the mine is consequently idle. The same men who worked yesterday went down the mine again to-day, and the unionists resent the attitude taken up by these men in not adhering to the strict principle of unionism. The management, on the other hand, is not willing to prevent these men from continuing work it they so desire. The matter has now developed Into a lock-out, and there seems no nope ot an. early settlement. Another "stop-work meeting ha= been arranged for to-mor-row morning. In the meantime steps are being taken to interview the men who are working with the object ot peisun - ing them to join their fellow u ' ,lol, ‘ bts ’ If this proves abortive it is difficult to say where the matter will end.