REDUCED COAL OUTPUT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 2

REDUCED COAL OUTPUT

59,333 TONS IN SEVEN MONTHS RESULT OF STOPPAGES AND'GO-SLOW The New Zealand 'Coal Mine Association has prepared a return 'showing that for the period March 1, 1920, to September 30, 1920 \during which the present national agreement has been in force) tho amount by which the output of tho container was unnecessarily reduced was 59,333 tons. The loss of wagos to tho miners amounted to .£26,785. In this period stoppages caused a loss of 51,788 tons and "go-slow" 4515 tons, tho number of days last unnecessarily bciuL' 132} Tho following table gives in detail the loss of output at tho various mines duo to specified causes:— Stoppages. ■ Go-Slow. Tons. ' Tons. Blackball Coal Co 1,500 725 Taratu Coal Mines ... 2,GG5 . 320 Nightcaps Coal Co. ... 8.500 Wcslport Coal Co.— Denmstoii Mine ... 3,350 — Mi Norton. Mino ~... 5,490 . Shag Point Co 240 i-V Tnupiri Coal Mines— llotowaro Mino .... 8,4/51 Extended Mine 11,852 — . Pukcmiro Colliories-14,880 Westport-Stockton Co. 6,550 — • • 54,783 4,545 1 Total reduced output ......59,333 The number of days actually lost, and the amount lost in wages by tile miners, are shown in;lhe following table:— . Days lost Loss of Unneeessd'rily. Wngcs. '£ Blackball Coal Co. ... 7 . , . 1250 Ttiratu'Coal Mines .... Ml . 1143 •Nightcaps Coal Co. .— 1000 •Westport Coal Co.— Dcnnistou Mino 10 .1747 , Jlillerton Mine 9 2082 Shag Point.Co. 1 ' 544 Taupiri Coal Mines— Hotowaro Mine 24J , 3151 Extended Mine 21{ ' '§'5 .Pukemiro Collieries ... 31 4743 Westport-Stockton 14 . . 3850 : Totals 1321 • ->20,785 ■ Causes of the Stoppages.At the ltotowam mine, in the Wnikatoj there were .11 "stop-work" meetings in tho period iindor review,' and a-strike lihich lasted 17 days, over the question' of railway fares. This involved it loss in output of 5849 tons anil a loss in wages ol' J12200 On March" 12" the- truckers refused t.o work, giving as their- reason the fact that they had to use oil instead of grease. As a result- of this stoppage the. loss of output was 250' toils, and a loss of wages £108. On another-occasion tho Kotowaru miners refused to -go to work owing to tho train being late, and this action involved a loss of 350 tons iu output and a loss of £133 in -wages. At the Extended mine, four "stop-work meetings were held during tho period, and one day tho men refused to work because of a probable shortage of wagons. There was also a strike of 17 days over the railway fares issue'. The number, of days lost at tho Pukcmiro mine was 31, which included a strike of '21 days over tho question of railway fares and tho status of the engine-drivers There was .iilso a May Day holiday on May. 1 (for which there is no provision in the National Agreement) and a three-day. truck: ing strike. On September 27, 23, 29, and 30 the men. were on strike at the Deniiislon mine owing to 17 men refusing to pay a -special levy imposed- by the union in support of »tho Broken Hill strikers. Tho comua'ny was advised ri few days ago that the men had resumed as 13 of the defaulters had paid the amounts due, the other four being away from Denniston. The indications wore that'if these men returned anil refused to pay the levy, tho strike would be resumed. •, A report from tho Millerton mine was '■'lis follows :-"JIlly -24, : -2l>, ■md .27: This trouble arose as-follows:—The inspcc.or of mines decided that ono part of this mino must use safety lamps, and these were dulv installed. The men, however, at first refused to uso them, but subsequently negotiations induced tlie'm to do so on payment of an increase of 6(1. por ton. On August 23 iind 24 this -nune was thrown idle owing to two or three of the forgo drivers refusing to work certain horses which they declared were suffering from 'greasy heol : ' Other work was found for these men for a time, but before frosh horses could be obtained the men refused to continue the work to they wero put, and as thS miners stood by them, two day,?'- stoppage; of operations was caused.'