"MINERS' COMPLAINT."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 315, 5 January 1909, Page 3

"MINERS' COMPLAINT."

Jim TROUBLE WITH THE MINEOWNERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Reeftou, Monday. Pursuant to the decision arrived at on Saturday night, the miners did not turn up to work this morning, and all the mines are virtual)- idle. The Energetic mine is the only mine working. The manager and assistant-manager ate working. All works are hung up, casual hands even, though notified that no medical examination would be required, not resuming work. The tube mills and extension of plant are thus delayed. The Kcep-it-Dark mine is engaged pumping after the Christmas holidays, ,the mine manager being engaged in tilting the buckets and the superintendent being at the engine. The Globe battery ia in full swing crushing the remainder of a special lot of stone, but only the manager and one assistant are working. There is no news yet from the Globs ! or Blackwater. The trouble so far has not affected the colliery industry. Grcymouth, Monday. Everything passed off quietly in the Blackwater mine. Work was resumed as usual at the local coal mines. Some uneasiness is felt as to the ultimate outcome of the Inangahua trouble. Wellington, Monday. In connection with the miners' trouble, the Hon. J. A. Millar, speaking to a Post reporter, said the Government can do absolutely nothing in the matter. It is a? question purely between the owners and the men. The men arc practically asking the Government to give a blank chegue to every miner m the country who is suffering from the disease. We could not do that without Hie authority of Parliament. Westport, Monday. Work at the collieries in this district was resumed after the holidays. The output is fairly good. Thames, Monday. Regarding the difficulty re medical examination of miners, in view of the provisions of the Workers' Compensa-tion-'Act, so far as the local position Ik concerned the companies insist on the men being examined. In some cases no definite instructions have been issued, but the managers are not likely to ac- ' cept the responsibility of dispensing] with medical examination in view of the almost unanimous desire of the mining companies that medical examinations ,*re to be held. In some cases the men have taken time by the forelock and have already been examined, and, armed , with the medical certificates will com- . mence work forthwith. In the case of jthose who have been or will he found to be suffering from the miners' complaint in the Thames, there must be a considerable number of men who must perforce wait for the return of the Stipendiary Magistrate before they can secure the exemption necessary. It is not an- ' ticipated that any trouble will arise locally, as the Union, being outside the i Miners' Federation any mandate issued ! by that body has no bearing upon the local position.

Reefton, Last Night. '• Blatters regarding the deadlock toHay were very quiet. There is no change to report. The manager and superintendent of the Globe and Progress mines started the engines and dialed the mine out. A party of eontractors for the Caledonian United shaft how being sunk by private enterprise, assisted by Government subsidy, were refused permission by the union, though no medical examination was required. The hands at the Globe battery did not tesume, though no medical examination was required. All the mines were ready to work this morning. The managers were in their places. Work was absolutely stopped at the New Ulster mine, though. 300 tonß of stone, calculated to yield nearly an ounce per ton, was ready to work. The manager was the only one there. No proposal for settlement ins yet been made, i . Auckland, Last Night. ' In consequence of the clause in the new Workers' Compensation Act "passed last session which throws the responsibility upon mine-owners of having to pay compensation in cases of miners', complaint, a serious deadlock has arisen in connection with the coalmining industry in the Auckland district. The various mine-owners have taken up the 'stand that the liability involved is too heavy and too uncertain for them to undertake by continuing to employ men suffering from the disease in question unless such men sign agreements not to claim in respect of that particular disease. This decision has been emphasised Iby the insurance companies (including the Government Accident Insurance Department) declining to take the additional risk. The coal companies having given instructions that no men arc lobe employed who have not been medically examined, the miners in the Whangarei and Huntly districts have refused to undergo the examination. The miners were to have, resumed work yesterday, but in each case the miners failed' to take up their duties. Coalmining in the district is therefore at a standstill until some solution is arrived at. Supplies being short, an advance 'n the price of coal is predicted. Representatioiis are being made to the Government by the Employers' Association io end the deadlock. Thames, Last Night.

At a largely attended meeting of the ■Miners' Union held to-night, it was decided, after a lengthy discussion, that the miners undergo medical examination, provided the companies paid the medical fees involved.