COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1920, Page 5

COAL.

„ THREAT OF RUPTURE. OVER PUKEMIRO TROUBLE. STATEMENT BY MEN'S LEADER. By Telejrapn.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Referring to the failure to settle the Pukemiro mine dispute, Mr. J. Arbuckle (secretary of the Miners' Federation) today said: "If the companies are going to continue flouting the national agreement as they have been doing there can be no other outcome than an open rupture between the coal owners and the Miners' Federation. There will be no other course open to the executive than to support the Pukemiro miners by open revolt, seeing that the companies have seen fit to lock these men out after the Federation persuaded the men to return to work and leave the question of railway concessions to be settled between the Federation executive and the other parties concerned." STATEMENT BY PREMIER. NO TROUBLE IN THE SOUTH. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr. Massey read telegrams in reference to the coal position at the State and Taratu mines. The first message was from the traffic manager at Greymouth to the General Manager of Railways, and was dated to-day. It wa3 as follows: "The State miners' complaint that seventeen men fyjd to stand on a carriage platform yesterday morning is not correct. I instructed the traffic inspector to travel on No. 57 (the miners' train) yesterday, and Tie reports thai there was ample seating accommodation' for all passengers. Ten men were standing on the carriage platform. The traffic inspector offered to show them seats, but they refused to accept. The total number of passengers leaviiig Dunollie was 110. Yesterday's train consisted of the same cars its on Tuesday, and the guard of Tuesday's train reports that he hald sufficient second-class accommodation for all passengers offering." The next message was from MV, Cheeseman, general manager of the Taratu mines, and was of to-day's date. It was: "The statement of Mr. Holland is incorrect, as Taratu is carrying out the agreement. On the 17th inst. I paid back pay to the miners at Balclay's (the portion of the mine in question) and Blacksmith's amounting to £l3B 12s 2d, and to-morrow I pay out £SO 9s 4d back pay to a few miners in the shaft. This latter amount was not ready for the last pay, and the manager informed them they would get it this pay. I am unaware of any unrest at Taratu." Replying to Mr. 11, E. Holland (Labor I Leader), Mr. Massey said the men at the Pukemiro mjne were not working. | Mr. Holland: "Their employers are Sot keeping their agreement. Is the | Government taking any action?" Mr, Massey did not reply. PUKEMIRO'STILL IDLE. 500 TONS LOST DAILY. [ * Auckland, Last Night. The Pukemiro mine is still idle, and ! the country thus loses an average yield of coal of about 500 tons daily. The mines at Huntly and Rotowaro are working with 'a satisfactory output. RELIEVING THE SHORTAGE. Wellington, Sept. 30. . The State mines are working" to-day, but the settlement at Pukemiro,, which was thought possible, has not yet been effected. There are several shipments of Australian coal expected, which will relieve the present shortage. GAS WORKS SUFFERING. Blenheim Sept. 30. . The position in Blenheim is the reverse of reassuring. The present stock at the gas works might last till Monday, or if,a" supply of coal is not forthcoming the works will have to close down, and next week may see a complete cessation of the gas service.