Canadian Coal Miners' Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 15, 16 June 1911, Page 3

Canadian Coal Miners' Strike.

By YANK.

One of the grievances which the minerrs in the Crow's Nest Pass demand adjusting is that a man be placed in charge of each fan., and not as at present, where one man has to attend to three fans, each fan being located some distance apart.

The miners contend that if any one of these fans should stop while the fantender was at some other place, then the lives of the miners would be in jeopardy owing to the rapid accumulation of gas. 'the mine owners call these demands very unjust. Concession would mean the "ruin of the industry" and similar horrors. Here is a case where it is cheaper to kill a man than protect him. It's only a rumour that for every dead miner the company makes 200 dollars. The miners are all insured .by the boss for 2000 dollars each. In the event of a fatality the widow gets 1800 dollars and the boss gets the "rakeoft"—2oo dollars.

It costs money to hire two new men, whereas a few dead miners would be to the best interests of the mine owners. If these miners would only consider the "mutual interest" of both parties they would hurry up and get killed.

Somehow though, there is a tinge of doubt regarding that "mutual interest" gag, in this case, at least.