COAL STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1699, 17 April 1917, Page 3

COAL STRIKE.

.MINISTERS ON TUB WEST COAST. Westport, April 15. Sir .lame,-. Allen and (he Mon. W. D. S. MacDonald arrived on Saturday to confer with the miners on strike in the Duller district. In the evening the Ministers held a lengthy conference in Westport with representatives of the several unions, and are meeting them again to-night and also delegates arriving from Oreymoulh, Westport, April ,Ki. Sir James Allen and the Hon. W. 1). S. MacDonald are to-day visiting the colliery townships of Denniston, Oranily, and Ngakawau in connection with the miners’ strike. Ii is intended to take on Thursday a secret ballot of the miners in the Duller district on the i|itesiion of re-Mining work, MEETINC IN (TimSTCIICKCn. A SYMPATHY VOTE. Christchurch, April Hi. A big meet pig of the Labour supporters was held last night to discuss the municipal elections, and Ihe Labour out look. Deference was made by Air Webb, M.P., and Mi' M’Conibs, M.P., to the miners on (ho Coast, and I he meeting passed unanimously the following resolution: “That this meeting of Christchurch citizens sends greetings to the miners and offer homes to their wives and children if they send them over.’’ It was stalml that arrangements are in hand to house a thousand women and children it neces-

MEX STIHKE AT WAIPA. OTHEIiS EXPECT To FOLLOW SC IT. Auckland, April 10. Informal ion was received in Auckland 10-nigb) that the coal miners employed al Ihe Waipa eolleries, near’Xgaruawahia. went on! mi strike lhi> morning. There are lie!ween 150 and 200 nidi in the employ of the company. The men employed by I be Tanpiri mines and by the Pakerimo Collerics held an important meeting tonight, the result of which has not yet transpired. Il is expected, however, that the men working in this group of mines at bluntly may go out on strike to-morrow. The Tanpiri Company employs over 350 men, and the Pukemiro Company from ISO to 200.

So far as can he ascertained, the men concerned have not given any reason for their action. The only motive that can lie assigned to them is their opposition to conscription. It is hoped that further trouble may be averted by an early settlement of the strike of West Coast miners by the Acting-Prime Minister and the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald.