LOCK-OUT, NOT STRIKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 677, 31 May 1929, Page 9

LOCK-OUT, NOT STRIKE

COAL MINING TURMOIL IN NEW SOUTH WALES MEN’S CASE EXPLAINED To make clearer to the public of New Zealand the position of the workers in the industrial turmoil existing in the Australian coalmining industry, two representatives of the workers. Messrs. J. M. Baddeley and H. Knight, members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, are touring the Dominion. They are paying their own expenses, and have entered upon the last lap of their journey, having covered the rest of New Zealand. They explained their mission todrto a reporter of The Sun. Mr. Bad deley is an ex-member of the Lan: Cabinet, and Mr. Knight has lived in New Zealand in earlier years. “It is obvious, ’* they aaid. ‘that some sections of the Press in *.he Dominion are endeavouring to mislead the public with regard to the actual position in the turmoil in the coal industry. ‘“We are commissioned to place ih* mine workers' position before the people, and to make it clear that then is not a strike in New South Wales, but a lockout. Twelve thousand mi n in this industry have been told that their services are no longer required unless they accept reductions in wagts of 20 per cent, for contract workerand Is 6d a day for day workers, and forego other conditions which have been obtained for many years. UNUSUAL PRECEDENT “An unusual precedent, is about to be established in the Parliament of New South Wales by the move madby the Prime Minister, the Hon. T. R. Bavin, in submitting to Parliament a scheme to reduce the wages of workers in the coalmining industry. The reason for this resolution, it. was stated by Mr.*Bavin, was that the reduction in wages would bring about i reduction in the price of coal, which would enable Australia to regain the Home and New Zealand markets it had lost. His proposal was that the price of coal should be reduced by 5s a toil f.o.b. Newcastle. The presenr price is 25s a ton. “The mine workers refuse to accept any reduction in the wages, because they state that the owners are making at least Ss a ton profit at present. “This is not a hypothetical state - ufent, but is supported by an accountant now in the employ of the miners’ union, but formerly in that of the owners. He has published articles in the Sydney “Sun,” “News,” “Daily Telegraph,” and the “Melbourne Age. clearly indicating to the people of Australia that the owners could afford to reduce the price without interfering with the conditions of the men. UNDER BASIC WAGE “Because of the state of the industry at present, with intermittent work, the men have not been earning the basic wage for some considerable time. Mr. Bavin himself said that the people of Australia would be alarmed to know that thousands of the men in the industry were not receiving the basic wage. ■ “The mines now have been closed for about four months, and the men are asking that they be reopened under* the wages and conditions before the lockout. While the miues are working, they suggest that ail accountant I representing the Government and the <-oal owners, and one from the union, be appointed to examine the books of the owners to ascertain the actual position. “If it can be shown that the miners’ accountant is wrong, the men are prepared tc consider the position. “The mines closed down are owned bv coal proprietors who are members of an association. These mines also are the biggest in the district, with the largest output. and the best machinery. The other mines working are non-associated. “The owners work the mines according to rates and conditions laid down by the court. The industry for many years has been governed by awards and orders made by tribunals set up by the Federal aud State Parliaments, and the awards have been obeyed by the workers and owners, and ratified by the Governments. COUPON SYSTEM “At present 12,000 miners—with wives and families, 50,000 people—are affected. The men are not receiving any money, but are allowed coupons for rations, amounting to 8s a week for single men, 15s a week for a man ! and wife, and 3s a week* for each child j under 16. AT OWN EXPENSE “We are here because we recognise that the people of this Dominion, as in Australia, are ready to help cne another, particularly when women and children are suffering. We consider, as do all our colleagues in Australia, that our mission, is of paramount importance. We are touring New Zealand entirely at our own expense, and in addition are paying 12i per cent, of our salaries, like any other union men in mines that are working toward the relief of those who have been locked out. “We acknowledge freely the sympathetic feeling that has been shown, during our visit.” Mr. Knight and Mr. Baddeley have been five weeks in New Zealand now . and have visited the South Island and the southern portion of the North. They will visit the Huntly and IFkurangi districts during the next few days, and will deliver two public addresses in Auckland on Sunday—i*i Quay Street in the afternoon, and in the Hippodrome in the evening.