COAL MINERS’ APPEALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1917, Page 1

COAL MINERS’ APPEALS.

'* statement by military ser 1 VICE BOARD. ' ' GREYMOUTH, Feb. 20th-. Thß Military Board this afternoon delivered the following statement in re gard to coal-mining appeols:— These appeals are made on the ground: that these men are essential to tin t welafre of the country in the product - ion of coal. It is on this ground only; that these appeals have been allowed. . Jit now appears in evidence and from 1 the Press reports that there lias ueen a material reduction in the output of the mines and this seems to be the result of concerted action. The exemption to miners has taken the form of adjournment of their appeals sine die, this being the only method of keeping them out of subsequent ballots. No conditions, other than that they remain in their present employment, have been imposed in adjournments already made. But this new development, in which exempted miners appear to be participating, makes it necessary for the Appeal Boards to impose additional conditions on any coemptions to be made. The condition , that the Board intends to impose is that the output of mines must be kept up to ’the normal. The Board will not grant exemptions cn the grounds that the men are required for an essential industry, only to find that the exempted men deliberately reduce the output from the mines. Cases adjourned sine die may be called up for reconsideration by the ‘Boards’ when circumstances or a change of conditions warrant it. We therefore propose to adjourn all these- eases until our next sitting and to call up for further consideration all cases adjourned sine die. If it is found that this reduction of output is continued the Board will reconsider the whole position and will grant exemption subject, only to the conditions tnat the output from the mines is kept up and tills condition must he observed without evasion of any kind. Whether such evasion arises from miners taking unnecesaTy time off from work or by reducing (tlia normal output during working time or a “go-slow” policy. As .the miners have not had the op - porltunity of considering this condition in respect to their appeals, these eases will all stand adjourned till our nexit sitting, and notice will be sent out for further;consideration -of exemptions already granted. The condition will apply ito cases of appeal by mine managers on behalf of miners and to miners* uppeals on their own behalf.