COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1932, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE

POSITION UN THE COAST.

ANXIETY IN MANY QUARTIvBS

The serious situa’iion in the coal industry oii the West Coast, created by the arFoii of the coal owners in sending the Unions an ultimatum has given rise, ,U> anxiety in many quarter-, outside, the ranks of the miner:-. and them is now evidence that wiser councils may prevail amongst t - c unemployed. As was general y anticipate. every Union affiliated to the Miners" West Coast Council, at terday s stop-work > meetings rejected practically with unanimity the terms which the mine owners sought to impose, and the action of the Miners Council in requesting the Coal Owners’ Federation to agree to a eoiilerenca 'in order to negotiate tel ms tm a new agreement was as unanimously endorsed.

A meeting ol close on four hundred members of the Grey Valley Workers’ Union was yesterday held at Wallseml to consider the recommendations of the Miners' Council, regarding the unacceptable, nature of the ultimatum and terms of the Coal Owners’ Federation. On a decision the voting was unanimously for rejection oi the ultimatum and for the adoption of tli e Council’s recommendations in favour of the request for a conference. The State Miners" Union held a stopwork meeting yesterday, to consider tho District Council's recommendation against acceptance: of the terms contained in the Coal Owner - " Federation ultimatum to the Unions. Bv a vote of 282 to 10, the Union adopted the recommendation of the Council. Several members condemned in strong terms the attitude that the Minister's telegram disclosed. It was recalled that previous Ministers adopted the custom of meeting the miners in conference, in order to discuss conditions and rates, and to have an oppoitunily of hearing the workers' case. In

c.ny event, the Department always was represented in the negotiations directly with the Union by the Under-Secretary for Mines, whereas on this occasion, neither he nor the Minister had nrt them, but the Government was itself undertaking to amend the Agreement, and the Union was being deprived of the right to any say in the matt.ei. Surely the men themselves shoo’d be consulted and not the Superintendent of State Mines alone. The meeting displayed strong feeling in the matter, and urged a, renewal of tho request for a. direct conference with the heads ol the Department.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Yesterday a special meeting of the Gray mouth Chamber of Commerce was held for the purpose of considering what steps might be taken by the Chamber In order to assi-t in averting the possibility of a general -stoppage in the coal industry on the West Coast. There were present, Messrs I’. J McLean (Chairman), F. A. Kiteliinghsm. F. W. Shallcrass, J. VV, GreenMade, D. A. Naylor. E. -McDonnell, T. Tate, J R’ng and J. W. Cal well-

After fully considering the seriousness of the position owing to the miners’ objection to the 'terms advanced by the Coal Aline Owners’ Federation, and the attendant conditions, the following resolutions were, unanimously adopted and were subsequently telegraphed to the* Prime .Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes; the MinPter of Mines, Hon. C. E. MacMillan ; M. T. O. Bishop, the secretary of the Goal Owners’ Fderation; and the Associated Chambers of Commerce:

1. That this Chamber views with concern the threatened stoppage ot the coal mines in the district, but from information received, believes that the judicious handling ol Hie matter, immediately would effect a settlement satisfactory to both parties 2. That the Chamber suggests that, preferably, the Coat Mine Owners' Federation meet the Coal Miners Unions in conference immediately; but, if a conference is not held, that both Federation and Unions take all possible 'stops to expedite the determination of the matters in dispute, under the provisions of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. 3. That both the Federation and the Unions be asked, jn the public interest, to keep the mines working pom mg the .settlement of the dispute, it being a condition that the rates of pay and other matters be retrospective to elate of .stoppage if such occurs. 4 That a copy of Hiese resoliit on: be 'sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister- of Aimes. Coal Almo Owners Federation, the Grey Valley Workers Union, the. Westport and Canterbury Chambers of Commerce, and the -s----sociated Chambers of Commerce.

THE' ULTIMATUM REJECTED,

MOTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

WESTPORT, Alay 16

There was a large meeting of the Demiiston Minors’ Union held at Dcnniston at 10.30 o’clock this morning to receive, the District Council’s report. The whole of the coal owners’ proposals were emphatically turned down. A cominiinicalion was sent to Air T. O. Hislop. asking him to meet the representatives of the Miners’ Organisations at conference. No reply lias yet been received. The Stockton and Millertoii Miners’ I’n.oils have decided, sfonilftrlv to Denuiston. to reject the terms contained in the Aline Owners’ submission to the Unions. A report from Demiiston states that the reductions under the owners’ proposals will roughly mean a cut of 2d per ton on the rate for producing coal nt Demiiston, and a cut of 4id per ton ut Dobson. The removal of the wet time will mean a loss of 4s per day. , In addition there will be no walking time, and no minimum wage, and the general reduction would amount to from 15 to 20 per cent, all round.

At the meeting of the DennLton Union yesterday, the following resolution was passed, and has been forwarded to the Prime Minister and Air H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition: “That this meeting of the Demiiston Miners’ Union is emphatically of the opinion that the Coalition Government is entirely responsible for tho outbreaks and riots which have taken place at Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, by its treatment of the unemployed in forcing men ipto slave camps and its failure to provide work at a reasonable wage, or to give adequate assistance or sustenance to those for whom work could not be provided 1 . M o, therefore, call on the Government immediately to resign, and submit its policy to the people of the Dominion for their judgment.” The above information is contained in a report from Denni-ston.

AITNE RS’ PR ERA RATIONS

WESTPORT, May 16

A report from Denniston states that instructions have been given to all of the Unions affiliated to remain idle until instructed by the AA 7 est Coast Miners’ District Council to resume work.

A recommendation lias been forwarded from the District Council to the Alincrs’ National Council, that unless the coal owners’ ultimatum handed to the miners, he withdrawn by the end of this week, all of the Northern and Southern Aimers’ Unions be asked to cease work. s

Messrs Hayward and Evans were appointed teo hold themselves under orders to proceed to Australia to collect funds for the New Zealand miners.

A cable was despatched to the Federated Minors’ Union of Great Britain, asking their assistance, aim it was dec Idled, that if necessary, two delegates proceed to the Old Country to put the case of the miners. Each Miners’ Union affiliated with the District Council Avas instructed to nominate two men to canvass Zealand for assistance, when required.

Messrs T. Whittle and! T. Muir were nominated for Denniston. It has been arranged that the rate of pay while the miners are idle shall be as follows: —Single men 8s per week; half-members os; and married man and wife los, with 2s 6d for each child.

A docket system will he employed. Fifteen pounds were voted to the District Council as the nucleus of a fund to defray the expense of the New Zealand collectors.

Tlie deputies have been asked to down tools, and to co-operate. The Seamens’ and Watersiders’ Unions have been requested to give their morn' support, particularly in the handling of coal. An endeavour is being made to get into touch with the miners’ organisations of Russia.

All of the l industrial unions outside of the miners’ organisations have been asked to lend aid, not in cash, hut in kind.

THE TERMS OF THE OWNERS

AUCKLAND, May 16

The Northern Miners’ District Council lias elected as President Mr K. L. Roberts, of Pukemiro, in place of Mr A. Robinson, who resigned. With the resumption at Hikurangi, the miners will begin discussion of the owners’ terms, among there are the following: That before 2s extra for working in wet places is paid, the mine manager jmi«t be satisfied that the recipient has worked in saturated condition for eight- hours.

|'liab there shall be no longer a min

iiiunn Avage. That timbering rates shall be reduced. That the rate paid for machine-cut eojil he reduced by dd a ton. That the mine manager has the unr*Mtrioted light to engage or dis-ehn-or a man at Ira oavu discretion. That stricter penalties be imposed for -stone found in coal. That miners should lay their own rails.

O W NEKS’ E EDERATTON,

WELLINGTON, May 10

In connection with possible trouble, at the Most Coast, coal mines, it urns ascertained to-day that a request has been received by the C'jal Mine Own ers’ Federation from the Miners’ Unions for a conference, and that the matter is being noAV considered.