WAR SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3069, 3 May 1917, Page 6

WAR SERVICE

POSITION OF IDLE MINERS MILITARY BOARD'S ACTION By Telegraph.—Press Association. Creymouth, May 2. The Military Service Hoard to-day reviewed the appeals made on behali of coal miners. ; Tile chairman, Mr. Evans, said the position was that some time ago, when the "go-slow" policy was in vogue in some, of tho mines, tho board issued definite warnings that unless the output was kept up lo normal,; exemptions could not, and would l not, be granted. Tho board had adjourned final consideration of the cases twice in hopes that better counsel would prevail, instead of which the minors, with the exception of those at Brnnnorton, went on strike. This strike was sett-led between the Minister of Defence and- the Hon. Yv. D. S. MacDonald and the miners' delegates. "Under the settlement • the miners agreed to resume work and abandon the "go-slow" policy, and did resume accordingly. As the miners bad 1 agreed to -abandon the "go-siow" policy, the condition determined by the board as a condition of granting exemptions was satisfied, and the board was lree to grant exemptions ns heretofore. But on April 28 the Stato miners again struck work over a. paltry question which could, andl no doubt would, be settled without any trouble. i'iie j whole question involved was only a . matter of ninepence' per week as a maximum and fivcpence as a minimum. In a t-ime of national crisis, when the Empire, was engaged in a life-and-death struggle, when'thousands of the flower of her manhood were giving thoir lives for their country, these men again strike, disorganise the country and paralyse its over a paltry question winch could easily have been settled, and which at most involved loss than one shilling per week. The Paparoa miners also struck over a question which no doubt would have come before the conference to be held between the miners' delegates and the oivners pursuant to agreement. "The board," addedi the chairman, "will say without qualification that in a. crisis of the kind through which the country is passing no conditions whatever existing in N«w Zealand justify a strike. If any class of workers choose to take that method of trying to force a. settlement of grievances which are as paltry as 1 those under consideration and to disregard! tho' agreement made, they have to reckon with the Military Service Boards. If those who are subject to the Military Service Act aire not prepared to do their duty in essential industries, they | cannot get exemption from the boards. "The appeals of all'miners from the State and Paparoa mines, who, since the resumption of work pursuant to the agreement mad'o with the Ministers of the Grown, have again struck, will be dismissed. The appeals of those who resumed' work, and have continued nt work will be adjourned, as heretofore. All the exemptions granted and to be granted are on the .express condition that tho mon exempted must give their best labours in the industry they are exempted for, or these exemptions will bo cancelled without further notice."