COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 5

COAL DISPUTE

WHAT MINERS EARN

'STATEMENT MADE BY MR. ARBUCHLE

Another statement regarding miners' wages was mads yesterday by Mr. .7. Arbucklo (secretary of the Miners' Federation). Mr. Arbuckle said that ho wished to offer some reply to remarks made at a meeting of the Wellington City Council.

"Seeing how little is known by t'ho public as to the conditions of and the wages eariwd by the miners," said Mr. Arbucklo, "I have decided to deal with one mine at a tune, taking Denniston, one oj the oldest liiiues, and the one mentioned by one of the councillors. Last quarter there were between 50 and 60 pairs of miners cavilled, and out of that number 31! pairs were unable, to make an average of 12s. per day. Fifty per cent, of the remainder made from lU. to 155., and t'lio balance over 15s. 1 will take the company's pay-sheet supplied to the uninn, and Rive you tho average of the 32 pairs, which is tho majority.

"Their average works out at lis. 8!d. per day, and the average number of days worked was nine, which js a very fair average, and gives the individual miner £o ss. 4{d. for his fortnight's work. Out of this he has to pay for his lights 3s. 9d„ for his tools 3s. 9d., to his union Is. (id., to his doctor 2?„, and Is. Gd. to the sick and accident fund, and his check weigh 2s. When this amount of lis. Gd. is deducted from his £5 ss. 4Jd. the miner is left with £2 ss. 5Jd. per week. "The coal owners ask the miners to accept 10 per cent, increase, on the prewar basis, which would be £Z 195., and which would be an increase of about os. per week, so that if tlhcy accepted l the offer, these miners -would be placed in the happy position of being able to make the magnificent wage of .£2 10s. 5Jd. per week, and when you place the value of the sovereign at <10s., the majority of the miners 'at Denniston would be trying to keep their families on J!l ss. per week. pre-wnr basis. This may seem strange to most people after all' the statements made as to. the wages made by the miners, but take the case of one pair of these miners who produced the very large anount of 17G tons of coal in one fortnight (10 tons per day); he does not make. 153." per day, yet if sold at the mine mouth at 22«. Gd.. the coal would be worth J2198, and iu Wellington, if sold at, ,£3 per ton, .£528, and this is without allowing the 14*. Gd, off taxes.

"If this does not prove that tho miners and public arc being exploited, then where is the mouey going? If the public wish to know, then' let them assist tho ijiiners to get a Royal Commission on tho same lines as tho one recently granted to tho British miners, and which proved their case also, that tho public of Great Britain was being exploited to the fullest extent. The owners say that the Hoard of Trade proved that they were not even getting a fair profit. Wo say that the Board of Trade did not do anything to show tihe real position of the coal industry. I made this statement at the late conference, and I make it again: That if tho Board of Trade had been paid to cover up the real position they could not have done it better.

"Ono councillor inside, the statement that the miners wore leaving the mines, which is all too true. Thirty-two coal hewers have left Millcrlon alone during* this quarter, besides shiftmen and truckers. I know of one man who sold hie house, furniture, and everything in it for"' £GO, and walked oft' the foill never to go back again. Would a man do this if the conditions were the least hit decent? Why, it would hardly pay for the iron on the house. Some say (hat the men nt Dcnniston were going slow, but they were going as fast as men could go, and producing all coal possible. In my next statement I will show the wages made at Blackball, and ibe difference paid by the State and .private communes, and tha price paid for the coal by'tlie public and the profit; mado by tho State." HOW COAL SHORTAGE HITS PLASTERERS UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH- LACK OF CEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Asaool&ilon. Christchurch, January 29. Several nlasterers in Christchurch reeentlv lost their billets on account of the shortage of cement preventing building ooerations. It was stated at a meeting of the Plasterers' Union that more men would 1» thrown out of work next week. The following motion was carried: "That this meeting: requests the Government'to use every effort to obtain supplies oi cement in order that building operations mav be carried on, and that unemployment in tho building trade may bo prevented. Tho shoriiigc of cement In Christchurch is rapidly throwing men out of work. We respectfuly ask the Government to inquire into Iho cause of the shortage, and ifin it is due to tho shortace of coal we strongly urge thai steps be taken to arrange a conference of representatives of the liners and the mineowners. "CUT" IN AUCKLAND TBAM SEEVICE. H* Toleirirh ■ Pw.» Association. Auckland, January 2D. Owing to the coal shortage the City Council has decided to curtail the tram services. The small reserve of coal is rapidly diminishing, and it was found that tile "cut" was necessary immediately in order to prevent a complete stoppage later. It has 'been decided to reduce tho services to-morrow, and to cut out the services on the hills, thus creating a gap in every service. Cars will not como into Queen Street, tho eastward section stopping at the top of Symons Street, n mile and a half from tho Post Office, and the western at the top of Pitt Street. About one-third of tho staff of the tramways will be temporarily suspended, one-third of the men standing down each week.