WANT MINE REOPENED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 683, 7 June 1929, Page 11

WANT MINE REOPENED

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER REQUESTS BY MINERS Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. This morning Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., ando Mr. A. McLagan, representing the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, waited on the Minister of Mines, the Hon. "W. A. Veitch, asking him to try to influence the Shag Point Mining Company to have the mine reopened. e It was stated that the company had made proposals to the miners for 10 per cent, reductions in wages, which the men had refused and, consequently, the company was threatening to wind up. The mine had been closed for two months following the men’s refusal to accept the reductions. It. was asked, on behalf of the men, that the Minister use his influence to have the mine reopened on the basis of the existing agreement, after which the men would he prepared to negotiate with the company and discuss means of improving its financial position. The Minister replied that the case was going before the Arbitration Court and he could not do anything likely to influence the court’s decision. He was tremendously anxious to have the problem settled and was hopeful it would be possible to have the mine reopened provided that he could be assured he would not be doing anything to conflict with the constitutional position. He would he glad to see whether anything could he done to have the mine reopened in the meantime.