Miners Get Seven-Hour Day

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1948, Page 6

Miners Get Seven-Hour Day

WELLINGTON. Feb. 18. The Govemment had declded to .institute a 7-hour day, bank to bank, for iindergroimd workers in State coal mines as from April 5, said the Minister of Mines, Mr. MeLagan, today. • The Minister said that underground work in the eoal ' mines was an ardons occupation and although a high standard of safety measures was insisted upon, the work was more dangerous and less satisfactory from a health point of view than siirface employment. It mnst be eonceded, theref ore, that in the ordinary way thei'e was a strong argument iii favour of underground workers being entitled to a sh.orter working shift than those employed on the surface. A promise of a 7-liour dayto be introdueed within 12 months after the cessation of hostiiities, was made to coal mine workers some years ago, the Minister added, and it was felt, in view of the importance of coal-mining to the national ecbnomy, and of the difficulty of maintaining the existing labour force in the industry, that it was now. time. to implernent the promise and thus make conditions of work uhderground more tive.The eaflier promise of a shorter working shift and the delay in implenienting it, due to war conditions, had led to some indiscipline in the mines, said Mr. MeLagan. It was agreed generally by those engaged in the industry, that there was a definite need for more orderly methods of work and for a greater recognition and enforcenient of propor codes of diseipline. The miners' national council and its branchcs had given an undertaking on behalf of its members, that the 7-hour day would be strictly observed and the Government expeeted mine workers to see that this pledge was faithfully earried out. He believed, said the Minister, that the Government's aim to improve conditions oi' work and of the liffc of persons engaged in the mines, had widespread support throughout the eonimunity. In return mine workers mnst recognise their dufy and obligation to the people generally by ensuring that eoal was produced to the maximum possihle extent. The success of a 7-hour day for coal-miners would be almost wholly in the hands oi" the miners. ' They would have the opportunity, as from April, to demonstrale that by their own efforts they eould improve their conditions without an impairment oi' the interests oi" the rest of the eommimity or of the

national economyl Compensation by way of an aljowanee of one hour at the daily wage ratck would be granted: to underground contract and piece rate workers.