MORE MINERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 172, 23 July 1942, Page 6

MORE MINERS

RELEASE FROM ARMY ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM

The decision of the War Cabinet

to brinsr back to industry from the Armed Forces experienced coal miners was commented upon to-day by the .Minister of Mines and Labour, Mr. Webb. F.-ir the production necessary another ">OO men were needed for the whole of New Zealand, and the necessary steps were being for their release from military service.

"When I brought the question before the War Cabinet I pointer! out that there were several hundred miners either in camp in New Zealand or overseas," said Mr. Webb.

"With a proportion of these men back in the mines production could be increased so that all the coal necessary could be won. I ascertained from the private companies and from the managers of the State mines that :;00 men would have to be released, and the men are now being relieved of their military duties, the War Cabinet agreeing that it was essential that production should be speeded up immediately. An allocation of experienced men has been made for the various mines, and the men will be back at work as soon as the necessary accommodation is provided. The housing question will be discussed at a conference of mine owners I have convened for tomorrow."

Mr. Webb said that past experience had shown that if decent amenities and housing were provided there was no difficulty in obtaining miners. The war had. of course, drawn extensively on the manpower resources of the mines, and now the position was to be relieved. In the last two years some £80,000 had been expended by the Government in housing accommodation at the Mangapehi State mine near Te Kuiti and at the Tatu State mine in Taranaki. In recent years £50,000 had been spent in the same way at Runanga. Workers in the State mines rented their homes from the Government, the amount being deducted from their pay dockets. When asked how the system compared with what -was done by private companies the Minister said the Government scheme was most favourable in comparison. At the request of the coal mine owners, supported by the United Mine Workers and Coal Mines Council, the lawhad been amended to give the companies the right to collect rents by deduction from earnings, but the companies had not availed themselves of the opportunity of doing this except in perhaps one or two individual cases. This question would be discussed at to-morrow's conference, when the owners and representatives of the Northern Miners' Union would review the whole field of coal production.