The Strike and the Lock-out.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 76, 23 August 1912, Page 4

The Strike and the Lock-out.

A History and a Review.

Together with an Exposition and a Defence of Federation Policy.

VIII.—THE MUCH-MENTIONED " POPPER."

There is considerable confusion in the public mind as to what precisely the "popper' at Reefton is, and even among miners elsewhere there obtains wonderment as to why all the fuss. The prevalent technical obscurity is not lessened by managerial statements. Mr. Fagan Explains. To make the matter clear, Mr. M. Fagan (Sec. lnangahua Miners' Union and workmen's inspector) has given a number of interviews to the papers, and from these interviews we cull the following :— "The rock drill which figures so prominently in the dispute at Reefton was a Waugh. It was worked by compressed air, and a hammer, striking 500 blows a minute, pops like a Maxim gun on the quartz overhead. Hence the name 'popper.' It was necessary to explain that the drill was used in practically the same way as a rivetting machine in boiler-making. The : drill the Reefton miners were asked to use was not a 'popper' at all. It was a rock drill, and it could bore a hole 60 or 70 feet long, while a 'popper' only went in a few inches, making a hole in which a charge could be placed for explosion. The new drill certainly was lighter than the one it replaced, and was boomed by the companies as a great labor-saver, but it created twice as much dust and grit as' the old machines. The companies contended that one Waugh drill could accomplish what six men could perform in the old style of hammer and drill. What Is at Stake. "The agreement stipulated that two men should be employed on a rock drill, and the companies' really a machine known among the miners as a 'long Tom' or 'war machine' —should take two men instead of one as the companies proposed. When the Waugh 'popper' was introduced tho mf.uers were pleased. It was believed that two men would have a less arduous time with the new article than with the old one. Then an order was given that the new 'popper' had to be worked by only one man, and the trouble started. The desire of the management now was that one man should take the place of six of tho old times, at great personal risk to that one man. The miners held that this decree was flagrantly unfaiMnbuman. Then contended, too, that the letter and spirit of the legal agreement provided for the employment of two men at a 'popper,' and therefore they held that it was not a case of workers striking, but employers locking-out. They contended that the companies' action constituted a breach of the award, and that the Mining Act had also been broken, inasmuch as it was impossible for one man to allay the dust nuisance. The Case Argued. "Mr. Fagan said that it would not be safe, owing to the treacherous (nature of the ground, for one man to work the drill. The companies said that the drill did not cause much vibration, but he contended that it did so. The roofs of the stopes were such that it was imperative, out of regard for the safety of the men, that two men should operate the drill. As the new drill would only bore 'uppers,' and as the quartz lodes around Reefton contained flaws and "flat-heads," the machine would necessarily cause vibration, and there would be the added danger of quantities of soil falling on the operator. The fact' that only one man was using the machine, and that all his attention must be given to it, increased the danger from that point of view. Two men should be required to protect tho roof. The drill caused more dust and grit than the ordinary machine. For that reason also it should be worked by two men, as one man should use a spray to keep the dust down. Some Facts. "Mr.'Fagan gave a concrete instance to support his contentions. Some months ago James Wicken was working a Waugh drill in the Globe mine. His mate temporarily left him to get some drills from the level below, and while he was away a fall of earth occurred, a 25cwt. 6tone coming down and striking the bar of the machine and twisting it beyond recognition. Fortunately, the bulk of the debris missed Wicken, who, however, sustained five broken ribs. His mate called for assistance, and Wicken was extricated from his perilous position. Had the two men not been working the machine it might have been hours before the unfortunate man was discovered. "In Auckland Mr. C. Rhodes (president Gold Mine-owners' Association) had stated that he could get men who would work two drills at the same time, one in each hand, and that he could find a woman who would 'run' a 'popper' drill. As a matter of fact, the machine introduced at Reefton was known as 'The Widow-maker.' A man who used it constantly would not live long. Mr. Rhodes had also stated that 'popper' drills were operated by Mexicans and Kaffirs. But the average life of a miner in a Mexican silver mine was four years and a-half, and medical evidence showed that hundreds of Kaffirs who had signed on for three years in African mines did not live long enough to fulfil their engagements. Miners' Complaint. "The advent of 'one man ono machine' would cause- the cases of miners' complaint to increase by 50 per cent., and the number of accidents to a similar extent. Thus they felt that the existence of the union and human life as well were at stake. These were two issues worth lighting for. Tin; men had their backs to the wall. "There was ample evidence to show that the miners of Reefton already suffered greatly from disease. During tho past 12 years there wore 98 cases recorded of miners' phthisis, caused by dust entering tho lungs. There were many deaths, contracted in the mines,

that were not attributed to the disease. Sometimes, for instance, a man, feeling that his energies were flagging, left the calling and found some other means of earning a living. He prolonged his life for some years, but ultimately died from miners' phthisis, although the cause of his death might be put down as ordinary consumption. During the fortnight preceding July 23 there had been three deaths from the cusease in Reef ton. Two men were in the hospital suffering from the complaint at the present time (July 20), and both were under 36 years of age." Who will Disagree? Evidence of this sort might be adduced in abundance, but sufficient has been enumerated to bear out the contention that the miners of Reef ten are fighting for protection to limb and life more than for economic livelihood. The general manager of the- companies concerned has stated that he wishes to introduce a single-handed machine into the mines in order to increase profits. Ho made the statement to the officers of the union. He is a young and ambitious man. The miners do not object to that, but they feel that when ambition means the sacrifice of human iife they should not help to gratify it.