THIS COAL SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1920, Page 1

THIS COAL SITUATION

(AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABJiS ASSOCIATION]

THE PUKEMIRO DISPUTE,

WELLINGTON, October 4

An. offer made iby the Executive of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association, with a view to arriving at some means of settling the coal dispute, has bees rejected by the Pukemiro Minors’ Union and the general position in the coal industry is now (considered to be. acute. The proposal made iby the employers was that the Miners’ Federation and the Pukemiro Miners Union should give as undertaking in writing, to bo embodied in a supplementary agreement, that in the event of any dispute or stoppage of work in the mine the engine drivers should not on any pretext whatever refuse to perform pumping operations or ventilation of the mine.

This offer was made as a qualified acceptance of the miners demand that engine drivers should. remain members of the Miners Union.

Mr J. Arbuckle, Secretary of the Miners’ Federation, informed a reporter to-day that members of the Pukemiro Miners’ Union had definitely decided that they could not accept the coal owners’ proposals for a settlement of the disputes.

‘‘lt is contended, and rightly so,” said Mr Arbuckle, “that the National Agreement must be adhered to. Of course the owners have stated that the Union in the first place has broken the agreement by stopping work on several occasions; but the same remark applies to the owners. The position is simply this: ‘There is no other option for the Federation than to support tho Pukemiro men in their attitude. They must lie supported because their demand is in compliance with the provisions of the National Agreement. lam leaving the thing open to the owners until to-mor-row morning, and if they are not prepared to abide iby the terms of the National Agreement, then we will have to act so as to force the issue.”

In reply to a question, Mr Arbuckle said that it would not be necessary for the Executive of the Miners’ Federation together to decide what action should be taken.

COAL REACHES CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 4 The collier Ivanna arrived yesterday from Newcastle with a cargo of coal. It is stated that within the next fortnight, a great number of people now employed, at Christchurch will be out of work unless fresli coal supplies arrive meanwhile. That there is little prospect of such relief is the opinion of Mr Jenkin (president of tbe Canterbury Industrial Association). He says that, after making special inquiries regarding coal supplies; the answers he received were practically all to the same effect, namely, that coal stocks were perilously low. They stated that a serious crisis was rapidly approaching. Mr Jenkin stated there were approxidays’ supplies of coal in Christchurch for industrial purposes. Those establishments not connected with the Lake Coleridge power supply would have no option but to put off many of their employees at the end of that time, failing coal arrivals.

HUNTLY AND ROTOWARU. AUCKLAND, Oct. 4>f The miners at Huntly and Roto warn Mines are now working steadily. Up to the present, however, the maximum output has not been reached. Last week the output was 750 tons per day, as compared with 1000 tons before the strike. No settlement of the Pukemiro dispute was reached to-day. Auckland is still without trams or gnsi and many are unemployed. One of the principal confectionery firms has had to give notice to one hundred hands. Other manufacturing firms are cutting down their staffs. Neither the tramways nor gas services will resume this week. .