STATE CONTROL OF COAL MINES

Southland Times, Issue 24872, 12 October 1942, Page 4

STATE CONTROL OF COAL MINES

Board To Be Set Up In Waikato (PA.) WELLINGTON, October 11. Regulations providing for the control of the Waikato coal mines have been passed by the Executive Council. The mines covered are those owned by Glen Afton Collieries, Pukemiro Collieries, Renown Collieries, Taupiri Coal Mines and Wilton Collieries. The control is to cease upon the termination of the present war. A board of control which will be known as the Waikato Mines Control Board is to be established. It will consist of the Minister of Mines, who will be chairman, four persons appointed by the Minister as representing the owners of the mines, two appointed by the Minister as representing the workers in the mines and one other to be appointed by tlie Minister. Salaries, fees or allowances are to be paid out of the War Expenses Account. The board will have power to exercise such control as it thinks fit and the undertaking will be carried out in accordance with the directions given by the board. An owner and all persons having the functions of management shall comply with these directions. The board may give directions about the working of the mine plant to be used and the workers’ accommodation to be provided, the employment or dismissal of specified persons as managers or other officers and the employment or dismissal of specified workers. The mines and premises may be inspected and any person whose presence is considered prejudicial to the efficient working of the mine may be excluded from the mine or suspended for a period. If the profits of a mine exceed the average net profits, the excess is to be paid into the War Expenses Account. An average will be taken from the three preceding financial years. If an owner and the board cannot agree on the amount to be paid to the War Expenses Account it will be decided by arbitration. For offences against the regulations penalties for individuals are three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £5O and £5 a day for a continuing offence and for a body corporate £2OO fine and £2O a day. MINERS APPROVE OF PROPOSALS AUCKLAND, October 11. The proposals for the State control of the Waikato mines were discussed with the executive of the Northern Miners’ Union by the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) when he visited Huntly today. The Minister stated tonight that the executive expressed complete approval of the proposals and congratulated the Government on the declaration of the industry for the duration of the war. The personnel of the board to control the undertakings had not yet been recommended, but it was expected this would be done early this week, said Mr Webb. Each side would submit a panel of names deemed to be acceptable to both parties concerned and the selection of the board would be made by the Minister. The board, which would be chosen as soon as the names were available, would hold its sittings in Auckland. Mr Webb will address a public meeting in Huntly on Tuesday evening and will give an explanation of the proposals for State control of the mines. He will travel to Wellington by the express after the meeting. The Undersecretary of Mines (Mr C. H. Benney) will arrive in Auckland on Tuesday.