COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1920, Page 5

COAL.

PUKEMIRO STILL IDLE. OUTLOOK AGAIN COMPLICATED. By Tel«er&ph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The -Pukemiro mine was again idle to-day. The union wa3 engaged in completing the ballot on the question of whether the men should resume work when the word came that the Coal-owners' Association had withdrawn the latest offer. This was followed by instructions from the Miners' Federation cancelling the previous instructions regarding the holding of a ballot, and advising the union that the matter had now been referred to the whole of the coal-mining unions of the Dominion. The ballot was therefore not completed. The general opinion in Huntly to-day was that but for the sudden decision of the coal owners the ballot would have resulted in favor of the men resuming operations. STATEMENT BY MR. ARBUCKLE. Wellington, Oct. 8. In a statement to-day Mr. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, states that before the owners' executive came to a decision to withdraw the offer to refer the Pukemiro dispute to | the National Disputes Committee, they I were informed that the Pukemiro Union was bound to agree to the proposal. The federation or the union would not agree to Saturday's offer. The owners were merely attempting to smash the Federation by keeping disputes going and refusing to abide by the national agreement. He accuses the owners of withdrawing the offer to go to the Disputes Committee as soon as they sav it would be accepted. Stop-work meetings of all unions will be held next Wednesday to decide on a future course of action. PRICE IN AUSTRALIA. JtN INCREASE ANNOUNCED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 9, 1.40 a.m. Melbourne, Oct. 8. Mr. Hughes has announced that the price of coal produced in New South Wales and sold in Australia has been increased, upon the recommendation of the Prices Commission, by 4s per ton as from September 27.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn..