Miners’ Dispute Has Affected Whole Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 606, 7 March 1929, Page 1

Miners’ Dispute Has Affected Whole Town

STRIKE AND FLOODING

TROUBLE AT HIKURANGI

Nearly 200 men are idle at Hikurangi as a result of a dispute between miners at Wilsons Collieries and the owners. As over 200 men were already out of work because of the flooding of the Hikurangi Coal Company’s mine, and almost the entire population of the town is associated with the two organisations, the position is a serious one and liable to become acute.

However, an official of the Wilson Portland Cement Company's Auckland office informed a Sun man this morring that he had hopes of an early settlement of the dispute. In the meantime he did not anticipate any difficulty over cement supplies. Orders could be fulfilled without trouble.

The coal from Wilsons’ Collieries was used mostly by the cement works, the railways, and in the district. Although an earlier report had stated that 170 men were idle at the collieries following the dispute, he had been advised that the number was nearer 200.

Trouble became apparent at the collieries on Wednesday morning when the men failed to turn up to work, and brought the mine to a standstill. The dispute was over the replacing of two men from the coal face by shift men, an action to which the men took exception. The circumstances are such that both large mines in the district are now idle, and about 400 men affected. Although pumping operations are being carried out at the Hikurangi Company’s mine it cannot yet be worked. It is said that the pumping is proceeding to the satisfaction of the experts. Two 6in. pumps have been installed. and these have reduced the level of the water by 3ft. in 24 hours. The total depth of the shaft is 105 ft.

STANDING FIRM

DELEGATE SENT SOUTH HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT (Special to THE SUN) WHANGAREI, To-day. The position at Hikurangi remains unaltered and the men are standing firm. At a meeting held yesterday a delegate was appointed to act for the miners. He left for Auckland this morning. It is unlikely that, there will be further developments until his return. The general feeling in the town is that a settlement of the trouble is in sight.