COAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1932, Page 6

COAL CONFERENCE

TO BE HELD IN GREY

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

GREYMOUTH, July ,4

It is expected that, in view of the arrangement already made for the holding of a conference between the West , Coast mine owners and workers, the negotiations will be ufiuertaken within the next fortnight, the conference being held at Greymouth.

OWNERS TERMS TOO DRASTIC.

HAMILTON, July 2. By an overwhelming majority tile Waikato miners this afternoon decided against the acceptance of the mine owners’ terms, on the grounds that they are too dirasjtic.

NEWFOUNDLAND MINERS’ CUT.

ST. JOHNS, July 2. In Newfoundland twelve hundred miners; employees of the Dominion Coal-- and Steel Coy., at Beel Island, to-day: protested against a pay cut ol three and a-half cents per hour.

HIKURANGI MINERS.

TO CONTINUE STRIKE

WHANGAREI, July 4

Hikurangi Miners Union decided by a “substantial majority, to reject the owners terms isnd to continue the strike, thus coinciding with the Waikatd ballot.

COAli SHORTAGE IN HAMILTON. - HAMILTON, July 4. As' a result of the Waikato coal mines strike, an acute shortage of coal- is ; now being experienced in Hamilton, and many coal merchants are unable to cope with the demand. Wood is being used extensively for firing purpose*.

COAL OWNERS

TO OPEN MINES FOR WORK.

AUCKLAND, July 4

Northern district coal mine owners at a conference this morning decider (1) to open the mines for work to-mor-,rbw ; (2) that in ; the event of an insufficient number of men reporting for work by eight o’clock on Wednesday morning, further, steps be taken, and employees absenting themselves then will be deemed not to have any claim on the employers.

COAL SUPPLY

AUCKLAND POSITION

AUCKLAND, July ' 4

Except for about 100 togs daily from • Walton collieries.^,,there is no supply dof Waikato coal 'Mailable, in Auok- ' T£nd, : but there.'is no shortage, as ifibst of them have plenty of West-port and Newcastle coal, ■ which is sold at 2-s 6d per sack more than Waikato coal. , About 135 men '(working in Walton mines are producing about 420 tons daily. They are working under a separate agreement similar in ternis to '■that under which all the Northern dis--1 trict miners Worke'd before the present dispute. The managing director said to-day the company wa,s rationing, orders, and there,Was no hope at the present time of supplying the Auckland demand.'

None of the companies whose miners are on strike have been able to supply coal for about a fortnight.