THE COAL INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1933, Page 5

THE COAL INDUSTRY

MINE CLOSES DOWN

FAILURE TO REACH SETTLEMENT)

(Per Press Association-- Copyright

INVERCARGILL, January 23. The latest- development m the Oliai coal strike- is that to; the of mines iWhidtihavS now namely, W#rakei, Mossbank, and mines, inflow added, the name of . the Black Lion mine. This mine, which was closed down on Friday as the.result- of the failure of the owner and the men to come to a isettlement,.-4id not re-open this morning. The miners worked last week under notice, to. see if some agreement, could be reached, but a conference with the owner,(Mr Peter MiiSikimming) on Wednesday proved a fruitless one. • • .-< The owner is stated to have refused to engage tlie men under ' the did conditions, and the miners lodged an object ion to the “Hire and Fire” clause, under the provisions of which the .mine manager is given- the undisputed right to- engage or dismiss men at his own discretion. This clause has been the cause of the trouble at- other mines, the contention of the men being that ~ it shfluid be struck out, and thin't.pro* ’ vision 'should be made for the sharing of the work. It is also understood that the owner of the Black Lion- ltti.’ie proposed ft reduction of fid par ton in the amount of • payment for coal hewn, ’■ this producing the rate from- 5s 4d to 4s lOd for solid working, and from 4s 10d.to 4s 4d for pillar working. The' negotiations, however, did not proceed , as far as this. The dosing down of-the Black Lion mine leaves only the Birohwood mine working. There ‘is no “Hire and Fire” clause in, its agreement, which will continue in existence until January, 1934, although a reduction 0f,,2d per ton was; recently accepted by tho miners there. g-,