STATE MINERS ON STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 672, 24 November 1909, Page 8

STATE MINERS ON STRIKE

e ; FOUE HUNDRED -HE* OUT. NOT UNDER THE POWER OF THE ARBITRATION COURT RUMOUR THAT BLACKBALL MEN MAY COME OUT. ( „ ' . The coahnlners of the State coal-mine at Point Elizabeth', Greymouth, left their work yesterday afternoon, owing to the refusal of the manager, acting on ' 'behalf of the Government, to undertake all trucking of coal from the working face without a corresponding reduction in the hewing rate. • (> The Point Elizabeth mine during the year 1908-09 employed approximately 440 ' • men below or above ground, and produced 236,833 tons of coal, of which 69,645 tons went to'the railways, and 62,09,6 tons to the State coal depots that supply the < public retail. /The trouble has not so far affected the other State coal-mine at Seddonville, , which employs about one hundred men, and \ utputs 59,043 tons a year. There is ' . a -rumour, however, that a strike may occur at the Blackball mine, Greymouth, whfch in 1907 produced 77,128 tons, and employed 130 men. Coming on top of the Newcastle strike, the stoppage of the Point Elizabeth ' mine will in any case have a serious bearing on supplies and prices, oven if the strike does not spread to other New Zealand mines. The secretary of the New Zea- ' land Miners' s Federation says that tho strike has no connection with the Newcastle > , j trouble, that most of the North Island mines do not ask the men to truck, and that / ' the miners will compel the Government to givo way. It Is stated that the strikers, not being workers under an award, are outside the penalties of the industrial law," The secretary of the Miners' Federation admits that tho strike will have the effect of reacting agau-st the principle of State- ;" owned mines,in Australia. >, , , , ' ~ Ministers have made no statement as to the Government's policy.

• NO BALLOT TAKEN. i

State mines at, Seddonville 'and Point Ehza--heth totalled 295,676 tons for the year ended March 31 last—a quantity, strange to 6ay, which does not differ very ranch from' the year's, inrpoftations of Newcastle coal; whictione authority ga\o recently as "not iar short of 300,000 tijns." The Profit-making Mine Idle. Of the two State mines, Eoint Elizabeth, now ,idle, is the profit-making one The following table shows the'output and valne of coal produced by the two State mines during the last official year,— * Point Elizabeth. Weight Value Tons £ i'o Railways r 63,615 68,312 i „ other Government Dei partmeats 5,901 5,410 „ depots _ . "8,096 55,010 i „ shipping companies ana , other private consumers 98,986 58,080 236,633 ,£166,811 > Seddonville. Weight. Value. io Railways . „ 28,771 27,845 „ other Government Departments ...... m 394 „ depots 3,381 2,702 ~, slupping companies and . other private consumers 16,592 9,838 „ Dnquotte-works „.. 11,888 3,269 1 59,043 .£44,049 Of the output,of the mines 75,549 tons (or a third) of the Point Elizabeth''coal was absorbed by the railways and Government Departments, and the output of the Seddonville mine, over 27,000 tops (or nearly one-ialf) was mmilaxly absorbed. The net profits for the yea VSJs e £? mt Ehsabeth Mine is shown »£"&*£ 7d - aild on Seddonville Mine Alau 17s. 4d. State and Blackball Employees. 'The report for the year 1908 09 of Mr. James ?V& V TF a *& i & Pouit State Colliery, states that tho emp ojees numbered approximately 310 underground, and 100 over! %™l d At the Seddonville State' coCy, which so far has not hgurcd in the dispute the manager reports,,that tho average number of men and boys ordinary employed during th s same year was one hundred. \ g -At tho rßbjckball < .Colliery, the output iof" which is of the hi uminous quality, 77,128 tons 1907 nnLJ Aa, com P an y» operations for ployed 8 l year * 130 men WCTB cm - A Seh'ous Shortage. ' fe#Sairn--^ use State i,l S /Hf°i t ? OWU that bomo stea ners Poni S fboa]s^tlt n been The absofuto cessXntf wo?k at the .principal State mine is more than lXoh to cause a senous shortage, and in wclfinformcd circles a rise in the price, for both ' bunkormg and household purposes, is ' considorcd almost inevitable For some fame past tho Railway Department has been adding steadily to its sWKotk ' of coal in Wellington, and to-day there Tare from four to six months' supply & hand

HOW THE CRISIS CULMINATED. (By ' Teleurapa—Press Association I , , ' Greymouth, November 23. , The trouble at the State coal-mine at I'mnt Elizabeth, Greymouth, readied J a crisis this gfternoon, when the men ceased work Conciliation Not Accepted. It appears that the executive interviewed the manager this morning, and asked what news he had received from Wellington Tie manager replied that the dispute -would hawe-to-.be ' referred to the Conciliation Court The executive said they would not agree to 1 ' g6 before the Comt, and at one o'clock ordered ' tie men out. By two o'clock all tho men had ceased work, and were out of the mine The manager, on being interviewed this evening, stated that it was to be regretted that the men had ceased work, as it would lead to many difficulties. The Department were firm , in their ■resolve' 1 not to accede to the miners' request to do the trucking unless the hewago ~ rate was reduced. ' '. t \ Cannot be Cited for Sinking. , .The miners are not under the Arbitration Ojrart, and consequently cannot be cited for striking. jPhe news of the strike was received in town -roth a good deal of surprise, as it was thought an amicable settlementi would be arrived at The issues in dispute have not been considered , fully by the miners, and thematter of staking f jwas not submitted toVballot, 'The miners havei acted simply on the, executive's'recommendation ' i • * J Yf,, 8, rumour in town to-nicM that the Blackball miners are prepared to cease work. V* N y THE POINT AT ISSUE. MTBUCKINQ.FROM THE WORKING FACE. J,„ *ij. «u_ \ v, j 'WHAT IT.MEANS. ; Speaking on Monday V a mass ' meeing o{ „ , miners held at tho Point Elizabeth State mine , (Greymouth), whero tho strike occurred<yes- ' terday, Mr. Senrple, president of the Miners' - fa<m ' ozptomed the point, at'issue; It was that the ( management should truck coal from thetface., Tie management would only agree to this request on condition that.tho men accepted a reduction of threepence per ton in , tho hewing rata. Tbis was the mam point at > ,isBM- The executive declined'to agree to the' ' f£ji " '■> mraa B eme nt df the executive '- Lnad . met "the manager, and no agreement* could .be arrived at.,' The manager Bad stated thai he had wired full particulars , „ to headquarters. >It was resolved that should areply not bo received within a reasonable i tftae, or should tho'Teply be not satisfactory, the men should at once cease work. \ i Customary Conditions as to Trucking i (" t reporter yesterday sought an e\- , t "pianation from jx gentleman with an intimate / knowledge of mines and mining as to' what the demand of the minors actually meant, and ' Cfi amounted to. 'Ho\stated that the de- , , Sinaod, extravagant as it was, was easily enough explamsd. ( It is tee practice m most of the in New Zealand for the men to ; (ma* m twos, threes, or tours (according to the ./'Of the working face or the width of tho S? m) 'rt ° f ead " 1 8, < a sm »U lead branching off f irom the main leads m tho mino). It is cus!lS7 f S! th * men ?«>*, to do their own ! rtrucbng from the working face to one of tho - ttnain leads, assuming that the distance is not *TLz? (1,8 -' W" "> agreement as to the ■$ s) - 1 oachM a malll lead or a ■\ P« n >ijt the 'trucks .of coal aro taken in ' U jEl+h? E? okors i Z. h0 , so bßslness wto con- ,\\ duct tho trams of trucks to the pit-head. "!i „. ' < \ Under a Private Agreement. t ' The miners at'tho Pomt Elizabeth State n mine work under a private agreement, as they , are not working under an award of tho Arbie tration-Court, but our informant adds that a pretty accurate idea of what are tho condimi uli t ?r> truc J I 3 Bathored from the i JilackbaU Miners' Union award ,which includes the following provision.— "Miners,-to truck their own coal 50 ; yards and run a jig. ' Trom 50 to 70 ', < yards/ to be paid Id. per ton extra, , over 70 yards, 2d. per ton extra. Turn ; , of trucks to bo regulated as evenly as possible." * / * ' ' 8 M yards (° r un dor> of trucking i which tho miners want the State to undertake, which demandi up till tho present, tho ii 1° i , refnSed - probably feeling full well that if such a demand were conceded it would , i ■ form, a precedent for all tho others mines in tho Dominion. , It would mean the em- , ployment of a large numbpr of extra truckers who, owing to tho distance of one "lead" ." from. another, would not be full} employed , all the fame., i '• Truckers' Wages. 'Some idea of >what this/ would /mean in extra expenditure to tho State and other com- ;. pames (which in the end tho .public would have to pay) can bo gathered from the wages paid to truckers, which are as follows — : u ' g, d . ' Truckers 19 years and over 9*' per shift >, '18 years to 19 years 8 0 „ 17 years to 18 years 7 6 ,', „ ' 1G years to 17 years 6 6 „ v „ , under 16} ears 5 6 ; A shift is ,eight hours. \ [ Not' a New Demand. . ; The demand that the mino management should, pay for tho trucking of tho coal from • tho working face is not a new ono. It was , included in' tho domands of tho Blackball Miners' Umon, nhen a new award was being considered exactly a year ago. The demand was on that occasion.— "11 Tho company to truck all coal from the working faces, and tho turn of trucks through- ' out tho mine to bo regulated as evonly as possible " It 13 hardly liw-essary to note that this demand was not granted. OUTPUT AND CUSTOMERS OF STATE MINES. RISE IN PKICE OF COAX IS DEEMED ' INEVITABLE With supplies of Newcastle coal cut off and a strike at tho Point Elizabeth State-Coal-mine, j Greymouth, the situation looks none too proI ~ nusins m New Zealand. Tha outtfat of thfi two 1

MINERS' FEDERATION. WITHDRAWAL OP BRUNNERTON UNION. The Miners' Union at Brunnerton has notified the secretary of the Minors' Federation at Auckland that it has withdrawn from the federation, and coases to recognise it in any - MINISTER'S STATEMENT, HAS NOT DEEMED IT HIS DUTY TO < INTEUrEEE. During the sitting ot tho House yesterday mS? n B • ln « ulred pother s the Hon R M'Keime (Minister for Mines) could give any information to members »ith reference t oj the position of affairs at tho State coal mino. Ho remarked that members had no inlormntion excepting what had appeared in tho newspapers-. The information in question was to say the least of a disquieting nature In reply, Mr..M'Kenzie said ho would like to explain,that negotiations had been going on fpr a fortnight between the management of the State mine at Point Elizabeth and the executive ot the Miners' Union with a view to a fresh agreement Although he was aware as to what the position was ho had not considered it to be his duty to interfere in any manner. During last evening and that morning several communications had passed between the manager and, himself* The latest information was to the effect that if suitable arrangements were not made by that afternoon the men would retire from \the mine during the ua}. As he had not since received any information he was not able to state the actual position at that moment. The Minister for Mines (the Hon R M"Kenzio) in answor to a Dominion representative who approached- him last night said he did not think that the agreement under which tho men wore working was a registered agreement Ho was not sure on tho point, because the agreement expired before he became Minister. DISCOURAGING TO STATE-MANAGED - INDUSTRIES. ME. GUINNESS OFFERS MEDIATION. The following telegram was sent yesterday By the Hon A. R Guinness to the piesident of the Minors Union, Runanga "Extremely regret to learn of disagreement between miners and management Shall bo glad to do my best with Government to arrange satisfactory settlement. If miners express their wish that I should do so, I believe I can bo of service, to minors through being present at scat of Government. Stoppage of work must mean senous loss to all concerned, and will bo very discouraging to those who ,wish to see State industries successfully • earned on by the State." ' ,

OPINIONS IN CHRTSTCHURCH. EXISTING STOCKS. (Bj Teleffrash-Priiaa A««oola>.<on.l Chnstchurch, November 23. From inquiries made among local agents of New Zealand coal-mmo companies, it does not soom likely that the strike at the State Point .Elizabeth colliery will interfere with meeting the requirements of the city and district, Much, of course, will depend on whether or not the disaffection among the minors at the State colliery spreads to men employed m other coal-mines of tho Dominion, but tho weight of opinion seems to bo against disaffection so spreading Mr. Crothers, manager of tho State coal depot in thri city, stated that stocks of State coal in the city were very low, but that there wero two shipments either unloading or an the way, Dab steamer was ducharglns at present, and.

the Kaituna would bo leaving Wellington to-day, 1 for Lyttelton. With the coal received by theso vessels, orders at present in hand could bo fulfilled. I A'Blackball View. Mr. A. A. M'JMlar, of tho Blackball Co., I stated that the companj had orders for oceangoing steamers right up to tho new joar. With tho exception of stocks in bulks at Lyttelton and on tho sea, the company had no accumulations of coal in tio city. Ho did not think it likely that the trouble at tho State mine would I spread to tho Blackball Company's mines, alI though, seeing that the minors were federated, it wis possible that if ono section want out •ill would have to go out Trucking at tho . Blackball Company's mino at present was done under, conditions fixed by an award of the Arbitration Court. 1 Mr. J. A. Boswell, local manager of tho Wcstport Coal Company, was of opinion that I tho stocks in Christchnrch of all cools aro in I a good position. His own company at present had as much as they could do to fill orders. The relations botweon tho Westport Company and their employees were at present most amicable, and ho knew of no reason wEy the existing relations should be fW.Ji ta as the company were at present situated, their yards and contracts wero well supplied. Conditions Different at State and Private v , / Mines. ' I, Mr W. Eeeoe, chairman of directors of the Wcstport-StocWon Company, stated that the I company kept no socks » this city but le that matter to coal merchants. As a result ,of the Cblo at Newcastle, the company had I orders for more than they could supply tor some time, and they were endeaTOnnng to get men in order that two shifts could be worked Mr Recce did not think that the troub e at | the State Mmo would affect the men employed at other mines, because the conditions existing I at tho State Mine with regard to the handling of coal were different to those obtaining in °Tt aftmts to this," added Mr. Keece, "that if New Zealand coalmines, could bo guaranteed the business that is m ordinary times represented by imports from Australia, tho Now- Zealand companies would increase their plant in order to deal ™tUt The Now Zealand mines are quite ablo tc[totfia business, provided it is assured to them.

THE MINERS' STANDPOINT. NO SURBENDER. , APPRENTICESHIP TOR TRUCKERS. I llij Tolceraph—Press Association! Auckland, November 23 In the course of an interne* to-night, Mr. R Manning, secretary of the New Zealand Miners' Federation, said he hoped tho strike at the State mine at Point Elizabeth would not be a prolonged one, and he saw no reason why it sbould extend to the othor State mine or to private minos; but ho could state quite definitely that noither tho Groymouth miners nor other throughout Now Zealand would contemplate a surrender of the principle involved, which was that tho men should not bo called upon to do therr own trucking. The duration of tho strike, therefore, depended on tho fame taken by the Government to concede tho point at issue. , Men Not Asked to Truck In Some Northern Mints. It would be a big thing, added Mr. Manning, for coal-miners if they won tho point, bocause it would have the effect of furthering coal-mining, and placing it almost on the basis of a trade It was the desire of tho men that, truckers should be practically apprentices, and should do this work before going on the face. That tho men. should .not;do trucking was recognised in the bulk of the northern mines, including the Taupiri. In some of tho southein mines the men did trucking a certain distance, for which they received certain tonnage. Speaking of the probable effects of the strike, Mr Manning said that it would readily be conceived that when tho New Zealand mines could hardly fill the orders at tho present time a reduction of the supply by 1000 tons a day, which was the output of the Greymouth mine, would embarrass consumers considerably j I ''' No'-Re'iation-'to "''Newcastle 'Strike.'' In reply to a question whether there was any relation between tho Newcastle and Groy- | mouth strikes, Mr. Manning said there was I none. As a -matter, of fact,, if > Now Zealand mmars had desired to strengthen the hands of tho Newcastle men they would havo best done it by sending their contributions, whereas 'now if any money were raised it' would bo sent to the State minors. It was unfortunate the strike had happened just now,in one respect, and that was that it would bo used as an argument against the starting of State mines on the .other .side.