THE COAL WINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1919, Page 4

THE COAL WINES.

SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE m PRODUCTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. , Wellington, Last Night. The socretary of the Mineowners' As. sociation (Mr. Pryor), writing to thi Prime Minister, states: "I have to ad vise you that information as under has" been received with regard to the result of the continuance of the "go slow" policy in coalmines for the week ended Friday, September 121 ■ Tom. Taupiri Mines -, 1590' Westport-Stockton Co lug Westport Co. ..,....,.v.J IMS. Blackball Co «.,.....• 879, Hikurangi Co 888 Fukemiro Collieries ,*.,.«„, s ,, 44$ Paparoa Co , 320 Taratu Mines •«<••*» 308 Northern Coal Co. (..»-»,,...-« 300 Waipa Collieries ......... «.,„. 300 Nightcaps Co. •,-««*». 300 Jubilee Co Total 72M !► In addition to the above the lon in the State mine, which is probably not less than 1000 tons, has to be taken into account, and this means that for the period indicated above the loss in output was over 8000 tone. This, added to the previous week's result of over tOOO tons, represents a loss in production of over 15,000 tons for the fortnight during which the miners of the Dominion have been "going slow."

NORTHERN MINE CLOSED DOWN. AS RESULT OP "GO-SLOW" EOLICT. Auckland, Last Night. ' The first fruits of the "go-alow" policy of the miners were reaped laft week, when the price of local coal went «p to the consumers. A further development, the brunt of which will apparently alio fall on the coal user, has occurred locally during the week-end, resulting ia the closing of the Kiripaka mine belonging to the Northern Coal Company, throw. ing seventy men out of work, and further reducing the coal output by 800 ton* weekly. ~ . ( . A Whangarei eorrospondent teb> graphed to-day as follows: "Work hat ceased at the Northern Coal Company's inine at Kiripaka. The men to-day de- i clined to accept the conditions of till M company's managing director (Col. Hoi* gate) that the 'go-slow! policy molt b< dropped and the normal output restored, and the agreement entered into lut June adhered to.

'Col. Holgate asserts that the output was reduced by over. 60 per cent last week The owners declare that tie nosi- ' tion constitutes a strike, and that they will not be responsible for the tools " '"M to the men left in the mine." The following statement wa* made today on behalf of the 'company by the secretary, Mr. O. Pojllock: "The Bustsing director met the representatives of th P union on Saturday, and he informed them that the 'go-slow' policy had reduced the company's.output by SO per cent, and that the company could not afford to continue under those conditions. The mine would be opened to them on Monday morning, provided that the union gave an assurance that the en-slow' policy would be abandoned, and that work would be carried on as per agreement entered into between the companv and .the union no later than •Tune 24 last. The union held a meeting yesterday and notified the management at 10 o'clock last night that they woold return to work, but it would only be under the conditions prevailing last week, namely, the 'go-slow* policy. The,' mine was kept so that' the men could go into it this morning, and when Ujet 1 presented themselves for work they wfri told by the management that they eofckt not go to work unless thev were pflF pared to work under normal conditiH. Tim they rofused to do, and they Wire then told that the company would no longer be responsible for the'tools, wbteh were then taken awav. Consequently, the mine is now closed." >

The company claims that the an hare struck, inasmifch a* they refuse to work under normal conditions'. RougMy, about seventv men, miners and snrf4«imen, are out of emjitovment. am! the normal output of the mine, 800 ton. if being lost to coal consumers.