COAL PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 4

COAL PRODUCTION

Concern At Method Of Control (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June. 28. “Tlie effectiveness of the pressure brought to bear on the Minister and the ineffectiveness of the Coal Mines Conned arid Control Board to act independently has been recently shown by the secretary of the Mine Workers’ Union being able to announce to its member beforehand the nature of the decisions which will be given by the board and council, before even the matter in question has been brought before those bodies,” said, Mia r. M. Winstone, chairman of Taupiri Coal Mines. Ltd., at the annual meeting ot ishareholders today. Mr. AVinstone declared that this type of control created difficulties. Also, there was deep resentment throughout the industry at the continued failure of the Government to fulfil its financial obligations toward the operators which it undertook under the regulations and under the Government’s pricefixation plans. This failure had been the cause of much concern to all the companies. Keferring to the absence of-nien from work without, reasonable cause, Mr. AlmStone said that in the ease of the company a loss of 32.000 tons was involved. It was. however, a cause for satisfaction, both to the management and the men. that there had been a marked decrease in the number of un!iuthori7 t e<l stopwork meetings.