THE COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 6

THE COAL DISPUTE

VIEWS OF THE MINE

OWNERS

REPORT TO ANNUAL MEETING

THE "GO-SLOW" TACTICS

The report of the executive of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association for the twelve months ended September 30 was placed More the annual meeting of tho association on Saturday. It deals al, eomo length with the conl dispute. "Notwithstanding tho fact that an agreement was made in September, 19)8, for a settlement of the conditions of work throughout the Dominion for tho duration of the war and six months thereafter, the period under notice has been one of more or less constant friction between, the mine owners and the miners' unions," states the report. "At tins September conference arrangements were made whereby all disputes regarding tho operation of agreements and awards were to be dealt with by district and, if necessary, national disputes committees. There was a distinct understanding that there should not be any strike, lock-out, stop-work meotings, or 'go-slow' pending inouiries by the committees referred to aWe. Not only has the scheme been a failure, up to the t/resent, but there has not been a single case of a dispute being referred to a disputes committee, in connection with, which the miners did not either strike, hold stop-work meetings or adopt tho 'go-slow' i»licy. In fact, it has been apparent that there has been little or no attempt on the part of the Miners' Federal ion or the several unions affected to secure the observance of the terms of the agreement. The June Demands.

"In Juno last, despite the fact that existing agreements and awards had considerable periods of currency, demands were received from the Miners' Federation for altered conditions of work, with a request for an immediate conference in connection therewith. The demands involved what would practically have amounted to n revolution in coal mining practice if they had been adopted, amongst the principal of them being a seven-hour shift immediately, to be reduced to six hours in 1921, a flat rate of 2fls. per shift for miners, the abolition of the contract system, and a national agreement applicable to all mines.

"Arrangements having been made, a conference, which lasted more or lese continuously from August 1 to August 13, wns held, without any settlement being arrived at. The employers offered to pay an additional bonus on pre-war rates of 10 per cent, to contract and piece-workers, and of 15 per cent, to shift men, but declined to discuss the demands for the abolition of the contract system and shorter hours, or to enter into a national agreement-. Following the conference, the 'go-slow' policy was adopted in practically all the coal mines of the Dominion, with the result that the output of conl has been reduced 'uy about one-third. The actual loss of output (to the end of September) has been approximately 19,957 tons. "There aro indications that many of the minors are not satisfied with the existing state of affairs. At Mount Torh'sse mid Homofrnsh the 'go-slow , policy has not been adopted during any portion of the time, whilo in the Kiripaka and Green Island mines normal produclion has been resumed, and at Kaitangata the reduction in output is very small indeed. In none of the mines have the bonuses offered been paid. The Alliance of Labour. "The action of the Miners' Federation has had the active support of the executive of a comparatively recentlyformed organisation known as the Alliance of Lalxiur, which represents the waterside workers, Iramwayinen, railway servants, freezing works employees, drivers, and miners, and is definitely committed to a policy of 'direct action"' as (Opposed to the constitutional method of settling industrial disputes. "While at Hie time of writing this report there fc no definite indication of a settlement of the dispute, it is believed that many of the miners are so dissatisfied with the limitation placed upon their earning power that ere long they will take matters in their own hands and accept the employers' otter, which Hie National Government, after full int|uiry into the matters under dispute, described as a fair and reasonable one.

The report refers to the inquiry made by Hie Board of Trade into tho coalmining industry, mid mentions that the board found thnt tho profits of tho industry were less than a faiv return upon the capital invested. The facts adduced showed that no charge of profiteering could fairly be mado against the mino owners. The Nationalisation Issue. "Tt is quite evident," adds the report of the executive, "thnt it is the intention of the Miners' Federation to secure the nationalisation of coal mines ag a stepp'ng stone towards the ultimate goal of union control. Some politicians have expressed approval of nationalisation, evidently because it is thought it may be a popular proposal in view of the coming elections. It is thought in rome quarters that nationalisation may result in less industrial trouble than under, private ownership. Tho experience in the Kfnte coal mines in New Zealand and, Victoria, is- thnt there is nt least Oβ much industrial strife under Government control as under private management. "Referring to the proposal to nationalise the British coal mines and the suggestions of tho Snnkey Commission with regard thereto, Mr. Lloyd George recently stated that the British Government had rejected the proposal after the most mature reflection. Ho further said: 'Nationalisation would not save expense in wages—tho experiment in State control of tho railways had increased tho expenses enormously—and it was doubtful if the output would increase.' In further discussing the matter, Mr. Lloyd George said he was unttwnro of any case where men worked better for IW State than 'or a private employer, and that the output of the national workshops compared very unfavourably with that of the private yards. "In liis manifesto stating tho Government policy, the Right Eon. W. V. Massey, Primo Minister of New Zealand, states that in his opinion . nationalisation of the coal mines would cripple privato enterprise, while it would not bo in the best interests of either tho general public or the miners themselves. He suggests improvements in housing and living conditions, and that the miners should have somo consultative voice in the control of tho mines.

''In conclusion, your executive expresses Hie hope that ere long Hie present dispute will bo satisfactorily settled nml (ho normal output of the mines resumed. If, in addition to that, additional labour bo secured, there is no reason why, with reasonable encouragement given to tho industry, the New Zealand mines should not lie ablo to supply the Dominion's coal requirements in much larger measure than is possible under present circumstances."