THE COAL MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1918, Page 5

THE COAL MINERS.

•DEMAND TWENTY PER CENT, INCREASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. \ . Auckland, Night. '' It is reported tfhat Hie Coal Minenr '<■ Iteration lias made a demand on tbfii ' Coal Mine Owners' Association for ail 11 increase of twenty per cent, in wagen\ and hewing rates. The Auckland agreements made last year, granting increases of, 17* to 20 per cent., were lor years, or fo* si.v months after the war. <; TAUPIEI MINE SAFE. V MINERS LIKETA' TO RETURN <X) WOHK. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. Bennie, Government Inspector <!& » Mines, in a report <lll the Taupiri Ejc« tended mines, says he failed to find <v trace of fire damp or black .lamp The three roads into the section were all exam.nod, and in two 110 danger was ol>served. 111 tlu. iniru there is k fall of roof ceal and signs of heatinjr, clue 10 spontaneous combustion, but 110 indications (hat there is fire there or in, utlipr places Certainly no fire is 10 lH) se-?fl. With a view to preventing a mitl<' fife the section is being Hooded nml portions ■ ■■* are completely isolated, p wen tin.? tjio escape of any ijases accumulated thsio. At the time of his there was 110 apparent, danger to the safety of the mine, or to the workmen in reiunvng work in other pans of the mine. 1 Union oflieials state that check inspectors will visit the mine at 8 o'clock-to'* Their report will govern thfl' ' situation as far as the union is concerned.

The check inspector's and fiovenimont, ■ inspector agree that when No. 0 section' is submerged all possibility of (lunger will lie eliminated- l't is expected the t section will be flooded to-morrow or Wednesday. Work, it is anticipated,, ' should therefore be resumed on Wednesday or Umrsday. Mr. Reed, chief in* spector, arrives ou Thursday. ■' : A SOUTHERN RUMOR. ' , " According to the Cliristchurch Press, " runwrs are current in that, citv that tlie West Couet miners contemplate go• ing on strike if their desires in regard to their application for tilie exemption ■ of Mr. .p, f. Web'b, M.P., are not acceded to. It will be remembered that Mr- Webb was drawn in the ballot sijft eral months ago and passed as fit. Hi* ' subsequent appeal for exemption, lodged oil the ground that his presence ww ' necessary to look after tlie miners' in* ■ tercats, was dismissed. Mr. Webb is dn« to (ro into camp in March, but an applii : cation for a re-hiring is to be made, ' It is understood tbut the miners' tude hinges upon the result of this. Tn conversation with a Press reporter, • mining representatives remarked that an industrial disturbance would not smrPrise them, alleging that tlio young-and! i irresponsible section of tlie miners, who controlled the unions by their violence, appeared to seize upon aay -pretext to bring about a. strike. Iu is stated that Goveniinent irlepaft- i ments, uartienlarly tlie railwa-va, Jiave - been laying in large stocks of coal lately, consequently reducing the VvAtieMs ■>« 'Jitocki for primta-oontteJWi. ,J . -