Open Cast Miners Object To Private Contracting

Chronicle (Levin), 23 April 1949, Page 3

Open Cast Miners Object To Private Contracting

NEW PLYMOUTH, April 22. A. deeision bv the Benneydale miners to stop work today, means that al) coal mines in the King Country are idie. Together with the miners at the Tatu State colliery, the Benneydale men have struck in sympathy with employees at the Waitawhena open east mine. ■- A union official said tonight that other mines throughout New Zealana would strike if the points at issue are not soon solved. The cause of the dispute at Waitawhena, it was announeed tonight, was the extension of private eontraeting in open east mines throughout the country generally and at Waitawhena in jpar-tic-ular. Before the war, it was ' elaimed, ali mining was done in State or private mines by empJoyees who worked foi wages or who were on a eooperative systein under an em'ployer. During the war the Government approached the private eoal companies or contractors to undertake open east mining. It is elaimed that, at the outset, the employees of open east mines were not members of miners' unions. In 1944, however, the miners insisted that all open cast employees belong to unions. It was also stipulated then that the klines Department should take over the working of the open cast mines as a State concern as soon as possible. Becently the united mine workers had beeome coneerned beeause, in its opin ion, -the taking over of the open cast mines was not proceeding as quicklv as possible. The national council, therefore, decided that no further extension of private contracting in open cast mining would be permitted. That policy was later endorsed by the rank and file of miners throughout the country. It is alleged that the contractor at the Waitawhena mine has had his eontraet broadened and that permission has been given for his operations to take in a new block. The Waitawhena men felt bound not to be involved in his new contract and consequently struck.