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Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1940, Page 8

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STRIKE ENDS IN STa,_ MINES DECISION AT MEETING YESTERDAY. INVITATION BY PREMIER ACCEPTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, July 7. The dispute which held up work at the Strongman. James, and Liverpool State coal mines for the past week has ended with the same rapidity as it began and all the mines will resume operations tomorrow. In a statement issued this evening relating to the position, the president of the Federation of Labour and secretary of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand. Mr A. McLagan, said there had been a very well attended meeting of the State Miners’ Union that afternoon when a decision was made to resume work tomorrow morning. All the State mines would be working as from tomorrow. He added that the members of the union were accepting the invitation oi the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, to proceed to Wellington to discuss a certain aspect of the dispute with him. Messrs G. English, president, and J. Guy, secretary of the State Miners’ Union, met Messrs C. H. Benny, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Mmes Department, and Mr C. J. Strongman, Superintendent of the State Mines, on Saturday afternoon at Greymouth, and Mr McLagan met the executive of the State Miners’ Union last evening, both conferences being held with a view to a settlement of the dispute. Then followed today's mass meeting which finally decided on the resumption of work. The stoppage of work at these three important collieries arose over the dismissal of a trucker who, it was alleged, had committed acts of sabotage in the mine. Following consideration of the question by a disputes committee of which the independent chairman, Mr O’Brien, M.P., recommended to the management that the trucker concerned be re-employed, the management declined ,to re-employ him. As a result the miners came out on strike, holding that view that under the terms of the chairman's finding the trucker should be re-employed. Stocks of State coal in the binns at the respective mines has been almost totally depleted during the week of idleness, but fortunately there is not a large number of vessels scheduled to load at Greymouth during the coming week, and within two or three dajs there will be sufficient supplies to meet immediate requirements.

KEEN APPRECIATION

EXPRESSED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I can only express my very keen appreciation of the attitude of the men in resuming work and helping thr> country in this great crisis,” said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, immediately after he had received advice yesterday afternoon of the settlement of the State miners’ dispute. The details of the settlement were not given in the telephone message which the Minister received from Mr C. J. Strongman, superintendent of the State Mines. “But I am confident that whatever the settlement is it will be in keeping with the ruling of Mr O’Brien, M.P.” said the Minister. The Minister said Mr Strongman had informed him that the executive of the State Miners’ Union discussed the stoppage on Saturday evening and a recommendation was made to the general meeting held yesterday to resume work. - The superintendent reported that the men had decided at their meeting to begin work again today.