STATE TIMERS’ STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2861, 21 March 1925, Page 4

STATE TIMERS’ STRIKE.

UNION AGAINST CO-OPERATION Rut a little while back, the Miners’ Department arranged certain eonfraets with parlies of coal miners at the State Minos to be carried mil mi the co-operative system. The contracts were signed and the work commenced, From all accounts the miners have done well under previous contracts. There has been no suggestion that the miners working in tin l eo-operativc parties earn less Ilian Award, or Agreement rales, indeed their earnings appear to In' very much lighter. The co-operative system was first introduced by the 1. tider Secretary of Mines (Mr TV. !\. Kiiiibell) after he had conferred with the Union memliers at a. largely attended meeting of the State miners Union at Runanga. The Greymoiuli papers in reporting the meeting with Mr Kimbcll, heralded the advance of a system of co-oper-alion as "A New Era.” Now the public receive a shock in the news that the State miners have struck work, sonic 250 are bile, and this peremptory demand lias been wired to the .Minister for Mines by Mr E. McAlnvey, secretary Stale Miners’ Union:- —"Work ceased at State mines until co-operative contracts ur< repudiated with parlies working same.” The Minister replied in the only terms lie honostlv could, that

"the Government does not repudiate its contracts but honours'them.” The individual miners had received a similar demand and to the credit of a number of men, they stood to their bond and refused to relinquish tlie contracts, Out have gone on working. We understand that . Mr Kimhell is moving to tin* West Coast to get in touch with ail parties and we would he sorry io say or write anything which might he an intrusion on tlie dillicull situation which the Government has to handle. At the same time, we must ask “What is the meaning of this in w phase of Unionism?” A Union is supposed to exist for the good of its members and not to do them an n.jury. If this strike continues not only the men of the State Miners’ Union, but many other wage earn<rs will suffer in consequence. A member of the co-operative party at the Binns Mine is reported as stating that the wages drawn by every man and hoy in liis party lastpay day were 1(5/7 and 17/9 and 29/5 per shift. If these rates arc approximately correct, then it seems like an attack on Unionism to try and break down a system which gives such good results. Unions are usually out for high wages. What is the limiter with a Union that is attacking a high wages producing system? Then there is the action of ‘•’striking.” It is so stupid from the general standpoint of the coal miners' interest. They want coal produced in the country instead of being imported. That is their general mpiest to the Government, hacked by the X.Z. Labour Party. The policy of striking is one that forces the country to import eoai whether the Government wants to or not. To he consistent, Mr 11. E. Holland, M.P, and his party should condemn this, strike. The question is have they the courage to do so? People will have in mind the co-operation contract carried out by Mr Robert Semple’s party’ in connection with the Orongoronga water supply, Wellington. There was no “go slow” on llial job; there wore no strikes; the only “job action” was that of getting on with the job until the whole work was (hushed. Everybody appreciated the good work done. It was an example of co-operative conirtiejing which received full credit from the public. At the ceremony of ‘•turning on tin* water" alter the work was completed, Mr Semple spoke on these lines:- Since his boyhood in- himself had been involved in industrial (roubles of one kind and another, till lie was sick and tired of it all, ami wanted to I r\- a was out of sordid ami neverending industrial troubles. file opportunity came, and he and the men who had worked with him were thankful for it, for they lmd shown llial (here was a way out satisiacini v to all.

Why does not the Slate Miners’ Union at Runanga. give the co-opera live contracting system an equally good chimee. If we are to have the same kind of "1 ndust rial Unionism” as is engaged in wrecking the transport industry in Australia, this count rv must suffer severely. The 1 nioiiism of •‘stand and deliver” which the State Miners’ Union is trying, will not help their members or any other workers, flu- members of the co-operative paities are good Unionists-: and indeed belter l.nionists apparently than those who are opposing them. The essence of sane. Trade Unionism is co-operation. We trust the miners as a whole will recognise this, and that this trouble will he soon settled. (Contributed bv the N.Z. Welfare League).