Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1927. THE COLLIERY STOPPAGE.

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1927, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1927. THE COLLIERY STOPPAGE.

For manifold reasons it is sincerely io be hoped that the meeting again to-day of the management and the men’s represent:!’ lives will lead to a settlement of the dispute at the State Alines, ;iml that the outcome will be such as to enable a resumption to-mor-row. From the fact that there is financially no great amount immediately involved, it might, appear to an outsider that both parties should have shown enough foresight, to have averted the stoppage. However, there is a <jues--1 ion of precedent involved. The State Alines Superintendent lias expressed the view that the consequences are important to other mines as ivell as those of the State One might, imagine that the State should at, least sot a good example so far as the conditions of labour are concerned, but it would actually appear that the concern felt by th’e State Mines Superintendent as regards other mines is a concern for the profits of the employers. His point blank refusal to allow the miners payment for time Jost in such circumstances as those occasioned at the Middle Brake Section of Hie Liverpool Aline recently, when the ventila lion was accidentally interrupted, can liardly be considered prudent to say the least, of it. It, would almost seem that the inanagemeiit welcomes a stoppage at this juncture. It is evident such a contingency as this one is most unusual, and therefore the award has evidently not covered it. In such circumstances, a, point, blank refusal 1o budge an inch is little ealeulal ed to provide the industrial peace we hear so much about. No doubt, the minors have been far from

anxious to lose their wages. Their’s is the stand that means a (present sacrifice for the vindication of a principle to govern future eonitngeneies of the kind. They are not on a salary which would go on in the case of such a contingency. The section where the 'dispute arose is> dangerous from its gaseousness, and -when the ventilation ceased, there was only one thing for it, and that was to

get out without delay. These men leave home in the early morning, and nearly eleven hours elapse before they return ea’eh day, and when they have turned to and worked until such time as they are compelled to eetise through no fault of their own, they- are entitled to a full day’s wages. Their time is al the employer’s disposal for the usual term of the shift-oil such occasions. Moreover, say a salaried employee of the mines makes an error of judgment, and the result is that the wage employees are unable to work a full shift, it is quite unfair to saddle the wage workers with the financial liability for loss. It.is ly different when the ventilation fails. Due would imagine such stoppages were apprehended as being likely quite -frequently, which only means that Hie workers are expected to put up with frequent losses through no defect on their part. If this is to be taken as the precedent in possession, it can only be said 11ml it is a bad one, and therefore not worthy of preservation. There are those who would decry every stoppage by workers, but it is obvious that, where a request otherwise to institute a more enlightened custom is met with so adamant and ineon siderate a refusal as that of the Mines Department in this instance, the workers have no other resource. In view of that fact, it is to lie hoped wiser counsels will now prevail, and that a way out will be found..