THE STATE MINE STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9670, 8 December 1909, Page 5

THE STATE MINE STRIKE

A MINISTERIAL PROMISE

EXECUTIVE ADVI3E MEN TO RETURN iO WORK.

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 7.

The Executive of the Miner< Federation states th'it in asking fir the management to do truck hie; at Point Elizabeth the miner" are only asking for what obtains in other mines. The men now on strike are asking merely to be placed in the position ot equally with other coal mines in the Dominion. They admic that their demand involves the employment of an additional 18 or 20 men, but as against this the output must be greatly increased when the mi jit is able to spend his whole time hewing coal. In the mine at Point Elizabeth the pillars are exception ally high, rei.dering the work ol timbering more difficult and dangerous. Hence it is absolutely necessary that not less than twi men should attend to timbering. The miner while working at the face gets into heavy perspiration. Directly he leaves the face with his truck of coil he removes into an alleyway, where there is a strong current of coH air, and is often obliged to stand there fir ten or fifeten minutes, with the result that he is prone to contract a chill, and in any case he is not fully fit to hew coal when he returns to the face.after trucking. The miners i \ this particular mine are obliged to use safety lamp 3 which in time impair the sight. It is dangerous that men who have to use safety lamps should do the trucking and jigging under all the circumstances.

The Miners' Executive interviewed the Prime Minister and Minister of Mines this evening. As a re9ult of the conference the Executive obtained an assurance that the Minister of Mines will visit the mine after the session, and will inquire into every thing alleged with a view to giving the men at Point Elizabeth conditions not leas favourable than thase now obtaining at other mines. Under these circumstances the Executive has decided to advise the men now on strike to resume work.