COAL MINES DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 8

COAL MINES DISPUTE

THE "GO-SLOW '\ POLICY PRODUCTION GREATLY REDUCED - * r • . The following letter lia6 been addressee to the lit. lion. W. P. Massey, Minister of Labour, by Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of tho Coal Mine Owners' Association:— v , "In acknowledging receipt of your let- , ter of SeDtembcr 8. re a further confer- ' enco with tho Miners' Federation, I havo to jjiform you that I will have- the matter dealt with at a meeting of this association to bo held on Wednesday, September 10. In connection therewith, I have to advise that from, information received it is apparent that a "go-slow" policy has been adopted in tho coal mines of the Dominion as the result of representations made to the various coal miners unions by the representatives of tha Miners' Federation. At any rate, it is evident that alter the visit of tho Hie ers' Federation representatives to the f various districts, this policy has been dm into operation in practically all cases, except where individual unions declined to adopt tho recommendations of the federation."

"As showing' tho effect of the adoption of a "sorfilow" policy, tho following table indicates the loss in output in a number of mines during the past week. It has to be noted that this does not include a • full week in any mine,- whilst several mines have only been affected for three or four davs. Decrease iu output from Monday, September 1. to Friday, September 6, owing to "Go-slow" policy: Tons.Westport Company • 1350 Westnort-Stcckton Company .. 764 .-,, Tauoiri Comoanv ; 1650 '< Blackball Company -.. 681 'Paparoa Company '......• 400 Pukemiro Company 500 Nightcaps Company ..; 350 Taratu Mines 250 Green Maud Mines 235

Total •« 6179 ♦Closed down for several days owing to insufficient labour offering, "In addition to the above there are tha State mines to be. taken into account, the loss of output of which, I understand from unofficial sources, will probably amount to 1000 tons, thus altogether niakine a reduction of at least 7000 tons per week. ' "I have also to direct your attention to the fact, that those miners who are deliberately restrictiug their output are committinir a breach of the strike clauses of the Act. and it is suggested that immediate proceedings should be taken against them for so doing."