COAL DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1921, Page 5

COAL DISPUTE

“GO-SLOW” TO END. NORMAL OUTPUT PROMISED. TRIBUNAL TO HOLD INQUIRY, 8y Tolograph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Both sides in the mining dispute having confirmed the arrangement proposed by the Prime Minister, the way is now clear for setting up the special committee comprising Messrs. G. Elliott (chairman), R. Semple and J. Bishop, to enquire into the dismissal and alleged victimisation of Henderson by the Blackball Company. Normal operations will be resumed at all mines. The decision of the committee shall be final and binding on all parties. 1

No definite date has yet been fixed for the sitting of the committee appointed to go into the dispute. It is said that unless some assurance is forthcoming from the men that the “go-slow” policy is abandoned and the output from the mines reach normal' proportions, it is unlikely that the committee will be called together. The secretary of the Miners’ Federation, interviewed, stated that the Prime Minister had the facts of the case placed before him, and any statement on the subject would be made by the Government. Personally, he believed that the trouble was over. Regarding the southern miners, where the difficulty arose with the management, he was confident that the matter would be left in the hands of the federation to adjust. He was not in a position to speak authoritatively on the subject, but he had no reason to doubt that such would be the case. POSITION IN THE NORTH. “GO-SLOW” ABANDONED. CLOSED MINE RE-OPENS. Wellington, Last Night. It has been ascertained that the Kiripaka mine, which was closed a day or two ago owing to the “go-slow policy decided upon by the miners, has reopened, and that full time is being worked in the mine. Auckland, Feb. 3 The Pukemiro coal miners have abandoned the “go-slow” policy, and resumed normal output. It is understood the Taupiri mine employees are acting similarly, though definite information is not available. THE STATE MINES. RESTRICTIONS REMOVED. I Greymouth, Last Night. In conformity with the Miners’ Federation’s direction to the State Miners’ Union that in keeping with the ballot result normal working at the mines should be resumed, the restriction to output operating lately was ,to-day lifted at the State collieries.