THE MINING TROUBLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2639, 29 September 1923, Page 4

THE MINING TROUBLE.

ON THE WEST COAST.

The following details concerning the trouble amongst some of the West Coast coalminers are written for the “Eltham Argus” by a gentleman who is thoroughly in touch with mining matters, and lias special opportunities through frequent visits to the Const, to form a sound opinion on the condition of affairs there: — Some time ago all the miners’ unions on the West Coast, with the exception of the State mine and Innngahua (Reefton) Unions, took a ballot on the question of whether they would strike or “go-slow” in order to make the coal miners adjust certain grievances which the miners had. The ballot resulted in a large majority in favour of the “go-slow,” but it has to be kept in mind that the men did not get an opportunity, although it was asked for, of voting against both of these issues, and naturally adopted the lesser evil as far as they were concerned, namely, the “go-slow” whereby they continued to earn a crust. It is held in many quarters, and by most of the miners that only the colliers, that is the men who are on piece work at the coal face, should vote on this question (“go slow”), as they are the men who have to make the sacrifice; but the miners’ leaders insist that all members of the union have a vote, which means that every rope boy, trucker, shiftman, bins hand etc. who are in the large majority in every union, can vote to reduce the colliers’ wages In 15/- without affecting themselves. After the ballot a conference of union delegates and the coal owners was held at Reefton but proved abortive. The three main points in dispute, although nineteen were put forward, were, a minimum wage for all adult workers underground of 17/- and 19/- minimum for colliers; solid rates for splitting pillars; special wet-time payment for exceptionally wet places such as exist at Stockton; not getting satisfaction from the conference, the unions decided to give effect to the result of the ballot, and the “goslow” was applied, with the result, that the output dropped considerably. After the “go slow” had been hi operation for six days, the owners posted notices at the mine mouths stating that unless it was discontinued, those practising it would he dismissed under clause 39 of the Arbitration Court award, which reads as follows: — “The adoption of a go-slow policy or the holding of n stop-work meeting withut permission of the manager at any mine shall be regarded as a breach of this award, and all participators in such goslow policy or employees absenting themselves from work for any such meeting shall be liable to dismissal without notice in addition to any other penalties to which they may be liable.”

As the men took no notice of this warning', a number of colliers, from five to seven, at every mine, were dismissed next day. This not having the desired effect the managers at each mine met the men at the mine mouth and informed them that under clause 39 all the colliers were dismissed, and the shiftmen, truckers, rope hoys, etc. were suspended until such time as the mine reopened. From the foregoing it may he seen (says the “Argus”) that Mr H. E. Holland’s demand that the Government prosecute the coalowners is absolutely ridiculous, and is made for political purposes. His insinuation that there is no “go-slow” is piffle, as every miner knows. The “go-slow” is termed by the leaders to he “striking on the job,” as a scientific method of striking. No Government can force a company to work at a loss, and all that the coal companies ask for is a gurnntee that the “go slow” will be abandoned, which throws the onus on the men to say when they a re'prepared to restart work. The mines are open for them whenever they are prepared to resume normal conditions, so it cannot be called a “lock-out.” A number of single men have left the district for other parts of the Dominion. It has been decided to send a delegate to Australia to seek financial assistance, also one to the mining centres in the North Island and the East Coast of the South Island. The mines affected at present are. Denniston, Stockton, Millerton (in the Butler), and Blackball and Papa ro a in the Grey, totalling about 1,200 men. The State mine and Reefton mines are still working. The co-operative mining parties at Seddonville, and in the Grey Valley are going at full pressure and producing a large amount of coal per man. There is room for scores of other co-operative miners on the Coast, and if the Government would only give them assistance with plant, for want of capital is their drawback, the industrial trouble at the mines would soo be a thing of the past, for the Miners’ Federation cannot control the co-operative miners. It is quite evident that the coal-owners have made up their minds to settle the matter once and for all, and things are looking very black. There is a feeling here that it cannot last long, as a large number of the emigrants are men with large families who have had to purchase homes and cannot be in a position to stand a long-drawn-out struggle, having neither money nor credit. The amount of financial assistance which will be forthcoming is very problematical, if the past is any criterion. If a move is not made to obtain a settlement after a reasonable time has elapsed, then the formation of

new unions is quite on the cards. Many of the men are of opinion that the leaders have again “missed the bus,” and that the men should have been out at the same time as the New South Wales miners, who are now going at top to fill orders for New Zealand owing lo this dispute.