DOBSON MINE CLOSED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 14

DOBSON MINE CLOSED

COMPANY'S ACTION

STAFF OF EIGHTY WANTED

SHARE SYSTEM ABANDONED

(By Telegraph.) (Spocial to "Tha Evening Post.") CimiSTCHUBCH, 30th ,Sept. Humours of trouble in the coalmining industry on the West Coast have been current for some weeks past, and today the Pobson Mine was closed. Mr. B. R. Bell, acting-chairman of directors of the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., mades the following,statement: — "The closing of tho Dobson Mine, which employs 300 men, has been brought about by circumstances beyond the control of the company. The primary factor has been the diminution of the market for coal generally. This has involved a reorganisation of the working of the mine, which in turn precipitated tho present position through the refusal of the miners and other colliery workers to assist in the reorganisation. For the greater part of 1930 and up till early this year the colliery was working two shifts daily, but m February, owing to reductions in orders, the company found it necessary to work a single shift only. This meant that work could be found for approximately only half the number of men then employed. The men asked the company to assist them by adopting a sharing of the work system, and although this was distinctly disadvantageous to tho company, the directors decided to meet the men by giving it a trial. Shaving of work has operated for about eight months, the result of the experiment being: (1) That while the original number of men were retained in employment, the time actually worked by the large majority was' reduced from, the normal five days a week to about two days per fortnight; and (2) a clear demonstration of the fact that the company could not work without Joss under such a system unless it was able to sell more coal than the market can at present absorb. /. ', "At the beginning of September the demand for coal further diminished, and as there are no prospects of any immediate improvement, the company had no alternative but to reconsider the method in operation at the colliery. The matter was gone into thoroughly, and two preliminary discussions took place between the general manager and colliery manager (representing the company), and the men, when the latter were advised that as from 30th September approximately only 80 employees would bo required, and that the company was prepared to consider any proposal they might have as to the method they wished adopted when dispensing with the employees not required. It was agreed that the company would ballot or cavil, for those employees it wished to retain. In order to allow a ballot for the selection of the men the company wished to retain, it became necessary for notice of dismissal to bo given to tho whole of the. 300 employees'as a preliminary to reengaging 80 as from Ist October. In the long run,- however, we were advised bythe union officials that the men would not agree to any alteration of the present system of staring work. In the circumstances the company did not feel justified in attempting to continue to work the mine, and so the action of the union has had the effect of closing tho mine. "Notices were posted at the colliery to-day inviting applications for the 80 positions available, with'a clear statement that preference will be given to previous • employees. Prior to that, however, the general- manager had already told the men that such preference would not only be accorded at the outset, but in tho event of the output being increased in the near future preference would continue to be given to ex-employees whenever it was necessary to increase the staff."