Promise Given Miners For Target Output

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1948, Page 5

Promise Given Miners For Target Output

WELLINGTON, Jan. 9. The Government is seriously considering a proposal that all coal mines in New Zealand shoul'd work a seven-hour day and 3o-hour- weelc as from April 1. It is understood that the miners were given a promise by the Government: that if thgy achieved a target of 2,900,000 tonk" of coal last year, a 35hour week would ■ opex'ate as from this nxonth. ...... The- miners at the Dobson State collieiy, Greymouth, apparently started a 85-hdur weelc on their o.wn initiative but it is understood that other groups are still negotiating with the Minister of Labour, Air. AIcLagan. A Aliuisterial statement is expected soon after the 51inister returns frpxix holiday . ixx Christchurch, oxx Tuesday. Ollieials. of the Ivlines ■ Departnxent, Wellingtojx, woxxld not conimeixt today, saying it was. a inatter of Government policy. The prcspnt suggestion from the Fxxited 51ixxe Worlcers' Council • is* that tlx.e 35-hoxxr weelc should be comnienced as froux April 1 but the dpcision oy the Dobson niiuers inay force the hand of the Government and result in the earlier introduetion of the shorter weelc. The target for 1947 was 10(3,130 t.ons more tlian tlxe 19415 butpxxt. Fixxal ligures for 1947 are not yet available at the 5rines Department whiclx is still awaiting the retunis of a nuiuber of privately owned ' tixines. X'evertheless it is apparent that wlxile miixers have stepped up the 194(5 total, tiiey failed to reaelx their target. Present Hegotiations for a 35-houx week recal'l 'the" visit of the secretaiy of the Australian Coal 5Liners' Federation, 5Ir. W. 8. Grant, to attend tlxe last annual coixference of the Couixcil of Fnited 5Iine Worlcers in June. 5Ir. ( Grant then said that Australian miners were xnakiixg a similar xnove for a 35 hour week. 5Ir. Grant also ixrged Xew Zealand miners to malce an extra elfort to acliieve the 1,947 target in the interests of the country and themselves.