The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1931. TRIBUTE MINING.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1931. TRIBUTE MINING.

Despite the alacrity with which the Westport watersiders resumed work in loading “black” coal from the tribute mines, the coal miners themselves, «o cording to latest reports, are not prepared to resume coal hewing. Further efforts, according to the message, are to he made to stamp out the tribute end contract mining. As far as can be gathered the main allegation of the miners is that certain parties of miners are working under the tribute system, which is regarded by unionists as pernicious and inimical to the condition of the worker. It is also claimed that a continuance of the system would constitute a menace to those principles for which the union has always fought. Interesting light on this aspect of the trouble was contained in a reference to it by Mr W.

H. Al‘ln tyre fii a speech in the A<l- - debate in the Legislative Council. He stated—and since he has had practical experience as a coal miner he is in a position to know —that the application of the expression “tribute mining” to the operations at the Cascade and Charming Creek mines was incorrect. Instead of paying the owners royalties on the coal produced, as is done- in tribute mining, the parties in this case have almost compete control of the management and output of the mines, their only dealings with ttie owners being in respect of the delivery of the coal at a- pre-arranged price. The employment and payment of the men are in the hands of tne miners themselves, and day wages are replaced by piecework rates. In this last fact would appear to lie the prime cause of the opposition of unionists to the system. For many years the Coal Miners’ Union has endeavoured to secure the abolition of piecework rates, but its efforts have been in. vain not only because day wages increase the cost of production, but also because the majority of miners prefer working on piece rates. According to Air M'lntyre, co-oper-ative mining such as that in operation at the Cascade and Charming Creek mines, with its substitution of piecework, rates for day wages, ’ enables miners to earn good wages instead of being restricted to a pittance of 17$ or 18s per da.v. At the Cascade mine, he said, the men 4n.joyed a minimum wage of 2os per day compared with the day rate of 18s and the average earnings of the mem si’’ee co-operative mining was instituted had been 30s per day. Air AlTntyre also quoted the case of two sections of the Liverpool mine which, in 1924, returned co operative miners £2 2s lid per day in, wages. In addition, lie recalled the experience at the PnpaYoa mire, which had to he, closed down owing to the high costs of production." A party of 12 miners took charge of it, however, and for the past two and a-half years have earned an average wage of 32s 6d per day, while their earnings have at times risen to as high as f 2 10s per day. Figures produced by Air M’lntyre may' he taken as proof of the rapid development of co-operative mining during the past decade. In 1921, mines operated under this system produced 10,320 tons. Tn 1930 the output of the co-operative mines was 286.520 tons and the men employed numbered 596. Moreover, there are at the present,,time, he said, no fewer than 28 applications by co operative miners awaiting the approval of the Minister of Alines. These facts refute entirely the allegations of the Coal Aliners’ Union that co-operative mining is not in the, interests of the miners,' a nil',’ since Air M'lntyre j.t emphatic in his view that the system, considers the Otago Times, as at present operated cannot be regarded as dangerous to the general conditions of mining, it is difficult to perceive any argument than can soundly be advanced in opposition to it.