THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1919, Page 5

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

OLD MINERS NOT WANTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 3. Inferring to the appeal by the Minister of Mines to ex-ininers in other occupations to return ,to tlie mines, Mr ; John Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, told a Post reporter to-day that it was not possible for any miner to go to the coast and obtain work as a coal hewer. The turn system was in force, which meant that the truckers at present engaged in the mines claimed the right to go on the coal when vacancies occurred. A man going to the today would have to start as a trucker and wait his turn to go on the coal. The wages of a trucker were 10s Bd per day pluß 30 per cent, and did not compare favorably with the lowest wagesearned by a sawmill hand (14s) or even with the wages of a general laborer. Therefore it was a difficult matter to obtain truckers. TKTs applied to Dennestou, Blackball and all the State mines. Mr Arbuckle denied the statement that there was housing for 50 men at Runanga and Rewanui, He said that all the houses at Runanga were occupied. The conditions at Rewanui were such that no woman would take a family there. There were only one-roomed huts which s&fdora got the sun and there was a danger they would slip down the hillside. Two actually did slip down when the eecupan.ts were absent.