WEST COAST MINERS

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 24

WEST COAST MINERS

A NEW DEVELOPMENT REFUSAL TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY. CHRISTCHURCH, June 24. Interesting developments are expected on the West Coast following a decision nutde by the miners’ unions in the district not to pay the unemployment levy. It is stated that all the unions in the. district took a ballot on the question on Tuesday, -but apparently the decision was not made known until to-day. The decision not to pay the levy threatens to aggravate the present trouble on the field, and the miners’ employers, who are obliged by the Un employment Act to see that their employees pay the levy, are wondering where they stand and what steps the Government will take to see that 'the Act is enforced. The legislation forbids the employers from deducting the levy from the miners’" wages. The manager of one mine pointed out to-day that the fact that the Government itself was a large employer of miners made the situation more piquant. There has been no further demonstration at Blackball by members of the Blackbill Miners’ Union against the small party of co-operative miners who are working the Blackball Coal Company’s freehold property. The boycott of the picture theatre in the township continues, and on Tuesday evening, when members of the union went into the theatre and found that there were present children of the co-operative party, they again returned to their homes. There is no likelihood of the waterside workers at Greymouth taking up an attiude similar to that of the Westport men, who refused to handle coal mined by co-operative or tribute miners. The coal taken from the Blackball cooperative mine will be transported by rail to Christchurch.

THE BLACKBALL DISPUTE STATEMENT BY OWNERS’ REPRESENTATIVE. WELLINGTON, June 25. Replying to Mr M’Laglan, Mr Bishop, secretary of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association, says that the Blackball Company has no quarrel with unionism, as such. There is no attack by the company upon unionists. There was- a dispute between the company and the union as to working the No. 3 dip section of the mine. On February 16 Mr M’Laglan was told the terms upon which the company was prepared to carry on work in that section and failing acceptance the section would be stopped. The company’s terms were rpjtcted by Mr M’Laglan and the section has now been stopped and the stoppage is permanent. The dispute has therefore been ended. The company hopes to develop the No. 2 dip section and is inviting tenders for the necessary work. There is nothing to prevent members of the Blackball Union submitting tenders.

POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS SEVERAL MINERS CONVICTED. GREYMOUTH, June 27. z In connection with the recent Blackball demonstration, the magistrate (Mr W. Meldruin) to-day dismissed charges of besetting against Blackball residents, but convicted several miners on charges cf stone-throwing, and three women' and two men on charges of using insulting language, imposing fines of £2 with costs on the first charge, and £1 with costs on the latter, in default seven days’ imprisonment. The police gave notice of appeal on the “ besetting ” decision. KOMATA HELD UP REFUSAL TO LOAD COAL. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT’S ATTITUDE. Advice’ has been received from Westport that the waterside workers refused on Friday morning to load any coal from mines which had been declared “ black.” In this case, the mines which are being worked on the “ tribute ” system are involved. In consequence of this situation, the Komata, which was set down to load at Westport yesterday has been held up. It is understood that the members of the crew have also announced that they will not carry coal loaded by other labour than that of the waterside workers and the Railways Department, which consols the loading at Westport, has advised the waterside workers that if they refuse to load the Komata, they will not be allowed to load any other coal.

A Press Association telegram - from Westport states that as there was heavy rain on Friday afternoon and there were no prospects of work the railway authorities did not call for labour tq load the Komata, but a call will be made at 8 a.m. to-day. It is understood that no effort will be made to load other shipping until the waterside workers agree to handle the Cascade and Charming Creek shipments for the Komata. The Titoki, of the Anchor Line, is in port, and the Westport Coal Company’s Canopus is due from Auckland this morning.