STRIKE OF MINERS AT KAWAKAWA. One Hundred and Fifty Hands Idle.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 January 1884, Page 4

STRIKE OF MINERS AT KAWAKAWA. One Hundred and Fifty Hands Idle.

Kawakawa, January 5. The "Northern Luminary," in a second edition to-day, says :—: — In consequenco of a disagreement between the manager and the miners with regard to the rates for coalgetting, the whole of the coalheavers struck work and brought their tools out of the mine this morning, without giving the usual fortnight's notice. This action has compelled Mr Moody to discharge all day men, 8 surface hands, including engineers and carpenters, Captain McLeod, contractor for barging and trimming the coal to vessels, has had to discharge his men and lay up the barges and s.s. Black Diamond, which means that there are now 150 hands idle— a bad beginning for the new year and the district's progress. We are informed that at least 75 per cent, of the men would have gone to work but for the interference of the ringleaders. The cause of the strike is briefly stated. The Coal Company considered, on account of certain drawbacks they have had to contend with, that their miners (who have been for years earning from 9s to 12s per day, some of them only working 6-^ and 7 hours in 24) should help them out of the temporary difficulty by bearing some of the losses to a very slight degree by hewing at Id and 2d less per skip, according to the nature of the coal, which is harder in some boards than others. The getting of coal and delivering same on board the steamer has, for more than 12 months, been costing the Company 13s s£d per ton, while they have been compelled to sell at 13s, thus entailinga loss on every ton produced notwithstandingtheheavy outlay in prospecting new ground, working bad •' faults," and absent dividends. We trust the men will look at the trouble on both sides, and that a change will soon come over the scene, for to-day Kawakawa looks not unlike a "city of drones." The anvil has ceased, so also the big smoke that used to rise over yonder hill.