TAUPIRI MINES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 100, 18 December 1931, Page 5

TAUPIRI MINES

(Press Assn. —

E,IGH, TY -FIVE MEN RECEIVE TWO WEEKS NOTICE TWO PITS TO BE CLOSED

By Telegraph — Copyright).

AUCKLAND, Thursday. Eighty-five workers at the Taupiri Coal Gompany's xninjDS this morning received 14 days' potice of dismissal. Yesterday notice was forwarded by the secretary of Taupiri Coal Mines to the sectetary of the Union informing him that the directors had, owing to the slaclcness of orders, been reluctantly forced to reduce the number of men. When interviewed this morning,. the Hori. E. W. Alison, chairman of directors of Taupiri .Coal Mines, Ltd., stated that with the existing economic conditions and the large number of unemployed the directors of the company were extremely reluctant to reduce the number of workers. However regrettable it was, there was riq alternative, as the whole of the coa-l to supply present or even additional orders could be obtained by the worlcing of one mine. The fcompany had been working three mines, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and the directors had now decided to close Nos. 2 and 3. During the summer there was always a fallirig-off in the demand for coal but this summer it hacl been more marked than in previoUs years. With the decreaSed orders the directors had decided that it was imperative that steps be taken at once to stop the loss consequerit upon the working of three mines. However, in closing the two mines, precautions would be taken to keep each in order and in readiness for reworking at 48 hours' notice. Colonel Holgate, president of the Coal-owners' Association, when interviewed, had nothing to say.