THE COAL MINERS' GO-SLOW MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3005, 16 February 1917, Page 6

THE COAL MINERS' GO-SLOW MOVEMENT

"EVIDENT FOR A FORTNIGHT." By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, February 15. It was stated to-day by one'of tho Auckland coal-mining companies ' that the "go slow" policy as sworn to before tho Military Service Board at Hamilton Mad" "boon ovident to the management for quite- a. fortnight past. The restriction of output amounts to a falling off of 100 to 150 tons a day in each of tho three mines in tile district, and actually about 350 tons a day for tho district. Lpcal representatives of • companies resent tho suggestion that thero is need' for such a policy to force owners to agree to a conference, as they had made it clear they wore willing to concede it provided tho Federation aims were first formulated.

WHAT THE'AVORKERS WANT. Tho president of the Coal Owners' Association denies the assortion that tho coal-owners decline to meet the Coalminers' Federation in conference On tho contrary, he says, the employers agreed from tho outset to hold a conference, provided tho Federation, which was seeking to alter the systenj from local awards as between local unions and local owners to a Dominion award, should first formulate definitely its demand respecting each mine. They intended on January 24 that a conference could be arranged within fourteen days of receipt of tho Federation's demands. These demands reached tho association on February 10, and a conference was at once arranged for February 21. The Federation asks for an increase of 17$ per cent, on the present rates for miners working on tonnage rates who are unable to earn the average of 14s. Id. per shift, to have the pay brought tip to that amount for idlo days and on Saturdays, for wages to be paid weekly on Friday instead of fortnightly, for froo household coal instead of coal at cost price, and a number of other alterations of . working conditions which the employers state will materially increase the cost of hewing. .