The Times TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1944. The State Coalminers’ Case

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 60, 14 March 1944, Page 4

The Times TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1944. The State Coalminers’ Case

A statement of the ease for a particular group of miners published in the press yesterday will have aroused wide public interest. It should be noted that this is not a general statement on behalf of coalminers throughout New Zealand, but on behalf of the Runanga State Miners’ Union of the West Coast. It is significant to observe also that the men concerned have felt the need to appeal to the public in the only way possible. That is through the columns of the press. The statement has bene well drawn up and provides much information. Even allowing that it must inevitably be somewhat partisan in colour, it nevertheless commands attention and directs a challenge to both authorities and the public. The first feature noted in the statement is that the Runanga miners dissociate themselves from the go-slow policy, inferentially. declared as existing at other State mines in the district. The next point to be noted is the declaration that the men protesting are, although working in a State coalmine, alleged to be receiving the lowest payment per ton of coal obtaining in any mine in the Dominion—a rate “comparing very unfavourably with the rate prevailing in other parts of New Zealand.” It would be unwise of course simply to accept that statement at face value, for it is possible that coal may be easier won in this mine than in others or the equipment may be better—price alone is not everything. A case is made out for the seven-hour mining day as being a reasonable one, and once again accepting the statement at face value the contention does appear reasonable. The statement offers comment upon the £2 a day alleged to be made by coalminers and suggests that such earnings would bo. impossible on the lowest rate paid in their mine, 2s 9}d a ton. From his returns the miner has to buy explosives and maintain a costly set of tools. To the uninitiated, who might work out the quantity, it would seem almost impossible for, a coal-hewer to put out about 13 tons of coal a day so as to earn £2 on his shift. Yet the fact of the matter is that drainers of swampland in the Mailawatu district are quite capable of moving the tonnage required under quite difficult conditions. Here as elsewhere thc.statement on behalf of the Runanga miners may be strong or weak. The public is really incapable of giving a judgment on that point without evidence “from the other side.” Probably the greatest shock to the public will be the realise tion that the coal for which he pays “about £5 a ton” may have been hewn at the face to return the actual miner there only about 3s per ton. In this as in one or two other features the miners’ statement does rather over-state the ease, for bag lots of coal are sold in Palmerston North at about 75s a ton and not £5. That comment, however, does not detract from the assertion that “if. the miner gave his labour free of cost, the price per bag would be reduced by only 4d or less.” On that ground Ihe need was urged for an inquiry as to why coal should be so dear to the consumer. The necessity for the fullest inquiry into the coalmining industry does indeed appear called for, not only on that particular point but on several others raised in the statement. For example, the miners claim that the methods of winning coal are exactly as they were 30 years ago and that mechanisation has not been adopted. The disparity between the price the coal-liewer receives and what the public pays may not prove at all unreasonable. The same complaint will be heard from sheep-farmers when they buy a suit of clothes. The public do not see their coal merchants as rapidly becoming millionaires, nor have the price of coalmine shares been booming. A very familiar complaint is made in the statement when it is declared that little alteration has been made in the tonnage rates under the present contract system and such meagre increases as have been given “have been immediately wiped out by the increased taxation and the rapidly rising costs of living.” The same largely applies to every other section of the community, except for a favoured few. The miners’ contention that their increases have been meagre may mean that these have been raised by that same 10 per cent, cost-of-living increase as has been granted to hundreds of thousands of other workers. Coal is an essential to the Dominion’s war effort and the wellbeing of almost every home. The shortage of this commodity coupled with the constant interruptions with the flow of production is a source of public irritation and a decidedly bad influence on the working morale of the Dominion. By all means there should be an inquiry into the. industry, one wide in scope and conducted by really capable men.