Minister's Excuse For Coal Mine Strikes

Chronicle (Levin), 18 August 1948, Page 5

Minister's Excuse For Coal Mine Strikes

Press Association )

(Per

WEL L1N GTGN, August 17. -McLagan, ic,p.ntinuing his roply lo the second readirt,g debate on the (Vial Bill in the. li'ouse of Representatives, said that in the last three years under the Labour Govewunent, tlie ross or time work.ed in the mines t-^ cause of industrial disputes, amounted to 60,487 days compared with 195,328 days lost in the last bhree years under Ihe National Government. Mr. ' i'ltt.agan said wages--and" conditions wertr incomparably betfer now than in pre^ vious years and one would have thought tliat these improvements would have reduced the amount of time lost but wages and conditions alone wouid' not end disputes. It wouhl take time to eradicate the legacy bequeathed by previons Governments to the miners. The nat.ionalisation of the coal measures would, however, Jielp to lessen time lost in the working of mines. The Minister said no privately owned« coalmine could have shown a proflt were it not for the subsidy it reeeived. The waste of coal and the need to eonserve the -coal measures could not be denied and tRe need for better- working was adniitted by 4he .Gppositioai. It was a good Balij r'cbn^laded tlie Minister. .- '>'1The Bill was given - its second reading after a division by 36 votes to 32, and the Bill was referred to the Goldftelds and Mines Committee.