MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1917, Page 1

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Go Slow Policy. (Pica PUESB ASSOCIATION.—COPYJAIGET.I HAMILTON, Feb. 14. At the Military Service Appeal Bonn! to-day, when a miner named William Burnie who is engaged on the staff of the Waipau Colleries, was asked by Capt. Rogers, Military Representative, whether the average output per man is as great now as it was 12 months ago replied “No” Further evidence was given that the present output is now 17 trucks per day whereas 0 months ago it was bttween 2 ) and 22. The witness could give no reas?’> why there should be such a decrease as the distance to the face should make no difference. lie would not say that this decrease was deliberate ou the part of the men, but he said it seemed to be the case that a very large decrease liad boon noticeable since last Friday week. The witness could not say whether there had been a meeting of the Union at which a resolution was adopted to restrict the output, but during ;tlio last fortnight it had fallen about one third. It was reported that the men had been instructed not to earn more than 11s 6d per day, that bring the minimum fixed under the award. The men were getting a war bonus, and were apparently putting that on to their wages and cutting down the tsupply of coal. In reply :to Mr. Rosser a member of the Board witness stated that if the men earned more wages 'they would got more war bonus. At the conclusion of the witness’s evidence the Mine Manager Mr. Thompson said lie wished the Board to unstand that he was in no way responsible for the restriction. ~ David, another appellant examinea i,u ■the point said be believed the miners throughout the Dominion had adopted a go-slow policy, but could not say for what reason. He believed ,tlie hewers and truckers were both parties to this policy, and if he personally did secure a good piaco in the mine he' would not be able to make a good cheque, because the coai would not be taken away by the truckers. Thomas Thompson, the mine manager, stated that the output from the

mine had been reduced by fully a third during the past fortnight. The actual figures were not available as there nad been no pay-day since the go-slow policy had been adopted, but lie knew from the weigh sheets that the output was not normal. He understood the same system was being adopted at Taupiri, and rn tne West Coast- mines, and evidently concerted action was being taken tin ougnout the Dominion. On the Thursday before this business started, the President of the Coal-min-ers Federation visited the mine and a meeting was held, and the output fell the nert day. Asked if lie could advance any reason for this policy, the witness stated that it was apparently an attempt to force the owners to give the men a confer, ence. The owners, some seven months ago, met the miners, who pleaded the high cost of living as the reason for some consideration. The owners recognised the position, and granted a war bonus of ten per cent on the wages earned under the award, to operate for the duration of the war and three months after. They thought 'the matter was settled, but now apparently the men were wanting some furher consideration and were earning less in order to strengthen their demands. In reply to Mr Rosse, Thompson stated that the award would not expire until January next. Continuing witness stated that the men’s average wage was nearly 17s per day, with a ten per cent war bonus additional.

Though he had no authority for the statement he believed that the men had received orders that they were not earn more than 11s 6d per day. AsTced as to how the men worked, Thompson stated that the men worked full time, namely, 11 days a fortnight, and the average for the number of miners engaged would be over ten days per man. The Association representatives approached another mine manager, who was not in Court at the time the above evidence was given, who, he said, conld in so far as his own observation went, bear Thomson’s statement out, and further added that the men had received explicit instructions that they were not to earn more than 12s per day. Seamen’s Appeals. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14 The Military Service Hoard considered twenty-one appeals lodged by W. T. Young on behalf of seamen. Seven of the men had not been traced and their appeals were dismissed. The decesion in the other fourteen cases was reserved.

The Second Division. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The Defence Department is preparing draft proposals for the classification of the men in the Second Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve. These will be sumbitted to Cabinet at an early date. The Hon. Allen K.C.B. says it is not expected that any call need be made on the Second Division for four or five months yet. Gorshoun Simmons, a West Indian seaman was charged with a serious assault on two shipmates, and found not guilty.