TO KEEP MINE OPEN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 111, 8 February 1928, Page 9

TO KEEP MINE OPEN

PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE UNION OFFICIAL’S STATEMENT Sydney, February 7. Addressing a meeting of miners of the Stockton Borehole Colliery and pressmen, whom he had invited to be present, Mr. Hoare, president of the Northern branch of the Coal Miners Federation, stated that he had received during the past eighteen months amounts totalling £597 as payment for keeping the mine working Mr. Hoare said that the money was paid to him at the rate of a halfpenny a ton on the output by a man whom he met in a street of Newcastle, and who refused to divulge his name. When Mr. Hoare said that he felt guilty in taking the money, the man said that he was getting a mere fleabite to what others were getting. Mr. Hoare said that he had not had to raise a hand to keep the colliery working. '1 he money would be distributed among the wives and families of members of the Stockton Borehole Lodge. NO SUCH PAYMENT AUTHORISED (Rec. February 7, 10.40 p.m.) Sydney, February 7. Mr. Sims, chairman of directors of the Stockton Borehole Company, referring to the statement of Mr. Hoare, said he was astonished beyond words. He added that his company would never countenance such a thing, and it had never been before 'he board of directors. His opinion was that there would be no advantage from such payment. The colliery was kept going entirely for the benefit of the men. The shareholders bad been paid only two dividends since the inception of the company in 1909. Mr. Willis, Legislative Councillor, Who, for fifteen years was associated with the coal miners’ organisations, said he had never known anyone on the owners’ side to make a suggestion which could have been regarded as corrupt.