COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 6

COAL CRISIS

"GO-SLOW" RESUMED

MINOR POINTS IN DISPUTE

EMPLOYERS OFFER ARBITRATION

Information that reached Wellington at tho end of last week showed that the

"go-slow" policy had been resumed at the coal mines, Tho miners at tho Taupiri, Blackball, and State mines woro reducing thtftr output lieforo the end of tho week, and it was reported that policy would be revived at tho other mines this weoit. Stop-work meetings aro to \Jk held at the mines this week, and it is stated 011 good authority that tho men will be asked to vote on the question of a national stoppage at an early dato, failing a settlement of the points in dispute. Tho revival of the "go-slow" policy at tho mines is regarded in official circles as a very serious The Dominion is still living from hand to mouth as far as coal is concerned. The railway reserves aro so small that a cut in railway services would become necessary quickly if weekly supplies were reduced. Other industries have scarcely any reserves at all. The amount of coal coming from Newcastle nt the present timo is satisfactory, but there is no guarantee that aupplies from that quarter will be maintained. The latest official information on the subject suggests, indeed, that New Zealand must be prepared to see its coal imports reduced to some extent during the rest of this year, owing to. tho threatened shortage in Australia's home market. The reduction of imports will be' a serious matter in itself, and will be accentuated if -the output of the New Zealand mines is cut down again.

The points in dispute ns between the miners and tHe coal mine owners are very small. The amount of money involved is merely a few hundred pounds per annum, and neither side can be particularly concerned about the financial aspect. The miners state that the agreement is not I>eing interpreted fairly, and that their interpretation must bo adopted bv the employers. The employers deny the fairness of the miners' interpretation, but aro willing to refer the points in dispute to an impartial arbitrator. The miners so far have not accepted this offer of arbitration.' Apparently they do not intend to accept it. The trouble arises from (liffeiences of opinion between the mine-owners and'the miners as to the interpretation of tho national agreement, under which nearly all the mines are now working. This agreement provides for a percentage increase on pro-war wages, but it has been found difficult in some, cases, owing to changed conditions, to determine exactly what was the pro-war wage for the class of work now to be undertaken. The agreement contains provision for tho appointment of disputes committees, consisting of three delegates from each side. It provides also far the reference to the official report of the last national conference of mine-owners and miners in the event of disagreement as to tho intention of the agreement. Many disputed points havo been settled since the agreement became operative. But several 6mall disputes remain, and the miners are precipitating a crisis by demanding that their interpretations shall be accepted by the employers. ,

THE MEN'S CLAIMS

The points in dispute may be summarised, from the point of view of the Miners' Federation, as follow:— Tafatu—'Tho company is paying 3d. per hour less for pillar work than that provided for in the national agreement. Green "Island.—The company is paying a'tonnagn rate which is 41d. less than that provided for in the national agreement. There is also a demand for the reinstatement of A. Manderson, who. it is stated, has been "victimised." Some timo ago, the federation state?, Mandereon suffered an injury to his leg. After he had sufficiently recovered the company refused to employ him unless ho agreed hot to claim further compensation should his injury rccur. Mandereon is a married man with four children, and has been compelled to leavo tho district and seek work elsewhere.

Mat mi r ft. —Shift workers nre receiving lis. and 15s. per day, as against ISs, per day provided in the national agreement. Further tonnage Tates paid by the vijmpany are Is. 3d. less than the rates provided for in the national agreement. THE EMPLOYERS' CASE QUESTIONS OF INTEEPBETATION. A statement covering the coal mine owners' point of view was mado on Saturday afternoon liy Jlr. W. Pryor, secretary of the Mine Owners' Association.., "The Mataura Company is not in the' association," he said, "and as far as it is concerned, I can say nothing. The disputes connccted with the other mines have been considered, first by Ihe District Disputes Committee, second by the National Disputes Committee, and third by a conference presided over by tho Prime Minister. Notwithstanding alt these iuiclings and conferences no settlement was arrived at. The employers have repeatedly offered to accept the decision of .my independent chairman, from the i-riine Minister down, while the Mi'itrs' Fed eration has stated t hat it will not accept the decision of onv body on tho points in disputo. livea'inllj .Mr. Massoy arranged that _ Mr. Tl.iUy should' inquire into the various disputes, and Mr. Hally is at present, espied in thai work. "So far aa the >Taratu mino is concerned, the question of pilars ■<as i-ncr mentioned at tho different conferences, and I.do not understand this reference in the federation statement of. the pants in dispute. Apart from U '<t, i.mv?\ ei' the Taratu and Green Island employers assert that they aro already paying more than is required by .he pvovtfoini .'1 the national agreement. Tn any (■■ise, Mr. Hally is sill making investigations, and it seems somewhat out of piii.e im Its federation to order the operation o; the 'go-slow' while Mr. Hally is cont/nuwg his imveetigations. "On behalf of the employers coiiurned, I will guarantee that if the parties c\nnot arrive at an agreement, employers will accept the decision of :>lr Hally on all the points in spn-e "Tho caso jf alleged victimisation, that of .the man Manderson, i* in > <iiljpi :-nt category. It is asserted that Manderson met"with an accident in the. but sii'ere ts ground for solid suspicion that the injury to hi* knee from which no was suffering w» the result of a fall from> a bicvclo. Some compensation was paid to Manderson, but tho insurance companies notified the employers that they would not cover Manderson unless he signed an indemnity freeing the employers from anj liability for further compensation in regard to the injured knee. The man-was offered work in coynection with the mine, but, acting on the advice of the federation, refused to sign tho indemnity. Under the circumstances the mining company <ould not nek the payment of a claim which might run to .£IOOO to ,£2OOO if the insurance companies refused the necessary cover." Officers of the Miners' Federation indicate that although tho disputes actually relate to three small mines they are lo be settled as between the two national organisations. A stoppage will apply tu all the mines. It appears, therefore, that the dispute must reach a critical stage quickly, since tho reduction of production will affect industries and tho household consumers of coal at onee. The stocks of coal that wero available when the "goslow" policy was adopted by tlic miners last year do not exist now. Mr. I'. Hally, who was sent by the Government to seek a settlement of the points in dispute, is in the South Island, and is continuing his investigations.. His recommendations Slay be availablo within a few days.