STATE MINES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1931, Page 5

STATE MINES

THE HOLIDAYS. {By Telegraph—Press Assooiation). WELLINGTON, January 6. Coincident with the holding of the Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Greymouth, two State coal mines in the' district have been rendered idle through being unable to secure enough milters to work shifts. The James and Liverpool Mines were to have re-open-ed after the holidays on Monday. Not one man reported at either mine today, the second day of the meeting, and only a few put in an appearance on Monday. It is usual for the State mines to close down over the Christmas and New Year period. They were to have resumed operations on Monday, alter being closed since December 23. Information received by the Mines Department on Monday stated that it had been impossible to resume work owing to the fact that no men had reported at the James mine, while only 70 men out of a total of 350 miners employed at the Liverpool mine had reported for duty that day, but this number was insufficient to work the mine. To-day further information sent to the Department- stated that not one man appeared for work at either of the mines.

The average daily output of the two mines totals about 900 tons, ot which "Oil tons is taken from the Liverpool mine. This means that about 1800 tons of coal would have been produced on the two days which work was to have been in progres following the holidays. It is estimated that the total loss in wages for the two days amounts to about £6OO.