IDLE AGAIN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 5

IDLE AGAIN

MINERS IH THE NORTH REFUSE TO WAIT FOR DELAYED TRAIN. PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, May 31. The miners employed by»the Taupiri Coal Company who work at the Rotovvaru mino had another day off to-day, the reason given by the head office being that the men refused to wait for the train that conveys them daily to and from the mine, and which was half an hour late this morning. This train leaven Huntly every morning at 7 o'clock with the men for the Kotoivaru and Pukemiro mines, but this morning, owing to a heavy fog at Huntly in the night, considerable difficulty was experienced in getting up eteam on the engine, and the train was not ready to leave until about ten minutes to eight. The result was that the Rotowaru men decided not to wait for the belated engine, and returned to their homes.

About sixty of tho Pukemiro miners also refused to wait for the train, and went home rather than start work half an hour late. The action of the Rotowaru miners mean 9 a loss of 300 tons of coal, this being the average output of that mino, while tho loss of coal from the Pukemiro mine for the day will be in the vicinity of 5200 tons, making a total Joss in coal of approximately 500 ton 3on the output of the two mines for the day. TROUBLE IN OTAGO. TARATU MINERS GO ■ OUT. DUNEDIN, May 31. In accordance with notice given on Friday last the miners working in the Taratu coal-mi Des went on strike today. It appears that wiien the new agreement of three months ago came into operation granting a 50 per cent, increase on pre-war rates, the increase of 3d per ton granted the miners in 1918 was discontinued.

A meeting of the men was held this ev.ening, when it was decided to adhere to the previous determination. It appears that the strike is not too popular with some of the men. Two or three have already applied for work at flie Kaitaugata. mine, and will commence there to-morrow morning. Altogether fifty men are affected.