THE COAL DISPUTE
PARTIES IN CONFERENCE ANOTHER GENERAL DISCUSSION . MINERS INSIST ON THEIR DEMANDS The conference between representatives of the Mino Owners' Association and of the Miners’ Federation was continued in Wellington on Saturday. The delegates had before them the demands made 'by the Miners’ Federation, including abolition of the contract system, a five-day week, a six-hour day, a minimum wage of -£6 a week, and a share in the control of the industry. After much general discussion the miners’ delegates stated that they proposed to insist on all the demands. The conference then adjourned until R. 30 p.m. to-day, when the mino owners will give their reply. It is likely that they will submit counter-propoals.
The delegates present at the conference were as follow: —
Representing the Miner Owners’ Association : Messrs. W. Reece (WestportStockton Mining Company), Robert Lee (New Zealand Coal and Oil Company), Colonel W. D. Holgate (Northern, Hikurangi, and Wilson’s Colliery Companies), Walter Leitch (Mount Torlesso Collieries, Ltd.), Edward S. Wight (Pukemirp Collieries, Ltd.), J. C. Binn (Westport Coal Company), W. Handyside (Nightcaps ltd.), T. O. Bishop (act-ing-secretary of association). Representing the Miners Federation: Messrs. T. O’Rourke (president), J. M'Bride (vice-president), J. O’Brien (North Island), W. Broadwood (South Island), W. Balderstone (Grey district), F. Grant (Buller district), J. Arbuckle (secretary). Mr. A. H. Kimbell, Under-Secretary for Mines) was in the chair. When the conference opened the chairman explained several minor points that had been raised during the preceding day, and some desultory discussion took place on these points. The chairman produced the following return showing the cost of State coal at the Wellington, Christchurch, and Wanganui depots from April 1, 1920, to February 28. 1921:— WELLINGTON DEPOT. 1 s. d. Cost, f.o.b. Greymouth 22 6.42 Marine freight 11 2 Wharfage - 1 ® Cartage in ■■■■ 2 3.95 Trimming and yard labour ... 8 5.2 a Cartage out - H 2.41 Kent and rates 0 <>.44 Sacks — 1 903 Freight - 0 323 Interest, depreciation, general expenses, etc 9 ®-l 9 Actual cost to State Mines Department from mine to delivery ’ 61 1 - 35 CHRISTCHURCH DEPOT. Cost, f.o.b. Greymouth - 22 6.43 Marino freight - W 9 Haulage and wharfage 5 0 Trimming and yard labour 6 9.36 Cartage out 8 10.01 Rents and rates - 0 2.41 Salaries 1 H. 77 ■Renaire and maintenance 0 2.88 Sarics - 0 517 Whts - 0 Interest, (depreciation, general expenses, etc - 1 9.56 Actual cost to State Coal Mines Department from mine to delivery 57 1,8 WANGANUI DEPOT. Cbst, f-o.b. Greymouth 22 6.42 Marine freights 16 6 Wharfage and haulage 2 8 Trimming and yard labour 6 3.03 Freights - 0 7d9 Salaries 2 5.87 Rents 0 6.29 Repairs 0 4-51 Interest, depreciation, general expenses, etc 1 5.07 Actual cost to State Coal Mines Department from mine to delivery ...' 65 9.51 The coal, said Mr. Kimbell, was sold „ to the consumers for 60s. per ton in each case. The Mines Department was preparing figures showing what the coal would cost if the demands now being made by the mines were granted. Another return presented by the chairman showed the cost of coal f-o.b. Greymouth from the State mines in the period April 1, 1920, to February 28, 1921. The details were as follow:— e. d. Cost on trucks 13 0.62 Accident fund 0 0.50 Haulage to port ....• 211 Extra haulage demanded (extra (trains) 0 7 Special rate 0 3 16 10.12 Management and office salaries... 0 7.40 Rents 0 0-30 Interest and exchanges 0 10.58 Travelling expenses 0 0.57 Printing and stationary 0 0-18 Repairs and maintenance 0 1.99 Telegrams and postages 0 0.23 Insurances 0 1.06 Compensation and fund ..../ 0 1.02 Cargo adjustment 0 0.09 General expenses 0 1.10 Terminal charges 0 4.21 Audit fees 0 005 Rates — Depreciation 2 6.47 Railway tickets 0 0.95 21 9.42 •M. per ton harbour rate at Greymouth to be imposed 0 9 22 6.42 Tonnage produced 139,395 tons Tonnage sold 136,020 tons Mr. Arbuckle said that the coal had cost only about 465. per ton in 1919Why had the increase occurred. The chairman said that all.the charges had been increased, including freight and handling. The charges included the cost of a new tunnel. Mr. O’Rourke alleged that the new tunnel was due to mismanagement. Replying to points raised by Mr. Arbuckle. the chairman, said that if the depots had been able to handle more coal they would have shown better results. The State mine had not, paid income tax last year. The State coal had been distribute under instructions issued by the Coal Committee, and much of it had gone to the gas works. The State mino did not pay local rates, but it subsidised the maintenance of roads, the local band, the doctor, and the railways. Mr. Grant made a complaint about conditions at the Millerton mine. Mr. Brown asserted that the arrangements made by the company at Millerton ■afeguarded the men if the men> themselves did not loiter on the roadways. Replying to a statement that Millerton men were kept away from their homes for an unreasonable tirrte, Mr. Brown stated that the men left their homos at 6.45 a.ro., and were all able to reach their homes again by 3.45 p.m. Mr Arbuckle asserts! that the return showing cost of coal delivered from (he State depots was not fair, since the de- \ pots had been idle much of the time • covered by the return owing to shortage of coal. If the return had been based fairly, the increase on the old coat of 455. per ton would not have been more than Is. 6d. per ton. Mr. Reece: Marino freight alone lias Increased by 3s. per fan.
The Cost of Coal, Mr. Braidwood said the retuTM »fww-
ed clearly that the miner could not be blamed for the increase in the price of coal. Handling and cartage in Wellington cost more than the cost of (ho coaT placed on the trucks at the mines. The oost of the coal on trucks wag 13s. 0.62 d. per ton. Mr. Kimbell said that management and ot er charges had to bo added. The State coal cost 225. 6.42 d. per ton on the wharf in Greymouth. Mr. Arbuokle: Thon it takes another 465. per ton to get the coal to the people. A delegate: It is nearly all wages. Mr. Arbuckle stated that the biggest charge was marine freight. The Union Company was getting 100 per cent, increase, but the mine owners grudged the miners a smaller increase.
Mr. Reece: The miner is getting 100 per cent. Mr. Arbuckle: The; miner has got only a 50 per cent, increase in rates. The rest of his increase is due to his increased energy and production. Mine owners pointed out that the production per miner per day had decreased all over New Zealand.
The chairman said the marine freight in 1916 had been 7s. Id. per ton. Mr. Braidwood: It is costing more tb put the cool through the depots than to get it oat of the’mines and place it on the ships. Mr. Arbuckle said that another point was t-at the State coal was sold to the people at 665., while the private mino owners were charging 15s. or 16s. more per ton. Mr. Leitch: The private mines cannot sell the coal at a loss of Is. per ton. They have not the resources of the State behind them.
The chairman pointed out that the Sta|e depota at Wellington and Wanganui made a loss, but the Christchurch depot made a profit. Mr. O'Brien told the conference that interest and depreciation were not proper chargee at all. He did not' see why mine owners should be allowed to make these chargee. All they were entitled to was what the miner got—three meals and a bed. If the mine owner charged interest and depreciation, bo should the miners.
The delegates argued about the cost of certain West Coast railways.
Development of Mines.
Mr. Reece said he would like to make some comment on the statement of Mr. O’Brien that capital expended on the development of a mine ought not to bear interest. The money very often was borrowed and interest had to be paid by the borrower. The Government had developed all its mines with borrowed money, on which interest had to be paid. Capital could not be procured unless interest was paid. Mr. O’Brien seemed to think it was a crime that capital invested by the State Mir anyone elso should bear interest. Mr. O’Brien: I would make it a crime. Mr. Reece: You cannot develop a mine without money, can you ? Mr. O’Brien: Ordinary individuals can borrow money amongst themselves without paying interest. I can go to a mate and ger ss. without paying interest. Mr. Reece (laughing): All right. I am done. Mr. O’Brien: Any man who uses hand or brain in the production of some useful commodity is all right. But many people don’t do either, and they charge this interest. We object to it. You knock off charging interest: and do a bit of work like we do and we will get along all right.
Mr. Reece: I think I do more work than you do. x Mr. Arbuckle: But you receive about a thousand per cent, better return for your labour than we do.
Mr. Reece: I wish I did. Ask the Income Tax Commissioner.
After the discussion had proceeded for more than an hour. Mr. O’Rourke complained that the mine owners wore not taking the conference seriously and were not taking part in tho discussion. He thought there was “a move on to fill in time.” Matters of no importance were being discussed. The miners had made definite proposals and they wanted a definite answer. If they could not get an answer, they might as well go home.
Mr. Braidwood said the mine owners had not stated a case 'at all. They ought to put all their cards on the table and reveal their contract prices. Then the conference could tell what the industry would stand.
Colonel Holgate pointed out that the figures concerning the State mine had been brought down by the chairman, who doubtless thought they would be useful. They had been dismissed by the miners' delegates. The owners had not wasted any time. Mr. Arbuckle said that if the coal owners could not explain away the fact that they charged 15s. or 16s. per ton more for coal than the State Minos Department charged, the conference was entitled to assume that. they could afford to pay what the miners were demanding. The labour costs did not: amount to more than 10s. a ton on coal. Yet the people were continually being told that the miners were responsible for the high price of coal. Tho mine owners ought to tell the conference what they were prepared to do. Wagos at Kiripaka. Colonel Holgate said that the miners employed at the Kiripaka mine during the three months ended December 31 had averaged 38s. Id. per shift on a basis of ten shifts per fortnight. Mr. O'Brien said that an average did not moan anything. Some men had earned more than the average, and others had earned less. Ho did not believe that anybody had earned the average. Colonel Holgate: Many men have earned more Mr. O’Brien: An average is an unfair proposition, because it merely represents nothing. You don’t tell us how many mon made smaller wages. Mr. O’Brien added that the figures did not deal with workers other than the contract workers engaged in hawing coal. Contract workers could keep up tho high pace for three or four years, and then they went on the scrap heap. Why not take the average over all the men employed in tho mine? Mr. O’Brien insisted that an average was an "unfair proposition.” Colonel Holgate said the figures wore quite fair and quite plain. They covered about forty-five men employed in tho Kiripaka mine. Mr. Arbuckle said that Kiripaka was a finishing mine, and the coal was produced easily. Mr. Bn.lderstone: What profit is tho Kiripaka mine making? Colonel Holgate': I can’t tell you that now. It is In liquidation. Ventilation. Mr. Leili'h quolod from I Im report of I 10. cliiet’ inspector of coal mines to show that the conditions of ventilation were particularly good. A vary careful in.
vestigation had proved that the air in the mines was pure and wholesome. Mr. Arbuckle and Mr. O’Rourke denied the'accuracy of this statement. Bad air Was encountered in some of tho mines, and time had been lost through this cause.
'Mr. M'Bride said that inspectors sent notices when they were coming, and preparations were made. Mr. Arbuckle: There is no colliery in New Zealand where there ore not complaints about the air. The tests are never made at the working face and the •air does not get there. The tests are made in the return air-way or the main air-way.
Mr. Leitch insisted that the reports showed that the legal standard was enforced at the face. The law required that each man should have 150 cubic feet per minute at the face. Mr. M'Bride referred to prosecutions of mine managers and the small fines imposed. In the Huntly mine, for instance, he said, there was no good ventilation. There was no such thing as pure air in a coal mine, once it got past the first man.
Mr. AVight considered Mr. M'Bride had made a charge >against the. inspectors in saying that the mine owners knew of impending visits, of inspection. On no occasion had the owners been advised. A voice: Oh! Mr. AVight. Mr; AVight added that the unions knew of the visits.
Mr. M'Bride: They are compelled to send for them.
Mr. Balderstone (Grey), referring to the Blackball and I’aparoa mines, complained of bad ventilation. Mr. AVight said he thought it was hardly fair to make statements in such a bald way. Mr. Arbuckle said that although ventilation might be "adequate" it was not always good. Mr. Brown said that in all mines there might be trouble with ventilation. Troubles were occurring in every mine in the world. He was surprised at Mr. Arbuckle’s statement. There was some discussion at this stage on a report which stated that in the Dominion’s “principal collieries’’ the ventilation could be improved. Getting to Business.
Mr. Reece said that those concerned were waiting' to hear the result of the conference, and were disappointed that they had not already done so. The proposals were serious ones, and would have to be placed before all members' of the Mine Owners’ Association. Tie risked the miners" representatives to give some indication to the owners as to which portion of the proposals they desired to be treated seriotisly. He suggested that, the miners’ representatives should consider tho matter, as the owners would like to know what was essential to the claims. The members of the Owners' Association were not empowered to close on those matters, but such (in indication by the miners would save time and would clear the air. He urged the minors to say definitely which proposals were to be taken seriously. Mr. O’Rourke: I did not know you were really snob a good fisherman.
These are the demands and we’ll stand by them. Mr. Brown: Is no compromise possible?
Mr. Arbuckle: After you make proposals, perhaps. Mr. O’Rourke indicated that the miners’ representatives desired the whole of the proposals answered. "That’s our attitude,” he declared.
.Mr. Reece: The position is serious and we must, consider it carefully.
'Tho conference adjourned until today nt 2.30 p.m.
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 173, 18 April 1921, Page 6
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2,592THE COAL DISPUTE Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 173, 18 April 1921, Page 6
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