DEADLOCK AT KAITANGATA MINE.

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1911, Page 1

DEADLOCK AT KAITANGATA MINE.

TRUCKING BY CONTRACT.. ■ A deadlock between the truckers and the contractor has arisen at the Kaitangata mine. Sometime ago k was decided to let the trucking in the mine by contract. One section was let a week or so ago, and the truckers were dismissed by the company and re-engaged by the successful contractor. It seems that another section of the mine was let by contract at the end of last week, and notices were posted at the mine that the services of the truckers in that particular section would be dispensed with as from Saturday last. The truckers affected held a; meeting on Saturday morning, and decided that until conditions of work, etc., were satisfactorily laid down, not' to seek re-engagement under the contractor in tKis particular section. Consequently on Monday morning the truckers did not offer themselves tor employment, and the miners in that section are unable to work. Some forty odd truckers and miners wer enot at work on Monday .morning. The deadlock, says the Free Press has nothing of a "strike"- in it, as the "truckers' were , dismissed, and can sequ entry have a right to say whe they they shall work' again under the altered system. It is difficult to find out the causes of difference in the matter, but as far as can be learned the truckers are of opinion that if there is any advantage in the contract system, they, as the men at stake,' should have the opportunity of sharing; in such- advantage. Further interesting developments are looked forward io*

"When you have seen tree trunks -that were many centeries in growth falling- bit by 'bit into fhe maw of a factory furnace, without any attempt being- made to fill •'their' place in the forest, when you have 'been saddcibfed by !th'e /Sfoedacle of the marvellous Brazilian forests 'blazing in every direction to make room for coffee plantations that will presently .spring up amongst the charred trunks you realise keenly that there is no more urgent need in these great countries than . a complete organisation of forest planting-," so writes M. .Clem'enceau in the Obscerver.