OUTPUT FALLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1939, Page 5

OUTPUT FALLING

PRODUCTION OF COAL IN DOMINION MINE WORKERS CRITICISED. SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHORTAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. June 20. Consideration may be given to the importation of miners to work New Zealand mines if no other solution can be found of the present difficulties in maintaining the normal output, according to the president of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association, Mr C. C. Davis. So far this year coal was being imported at a rate of 140,000 to 150,000 tons yearly, Mr Davis said today, compared with past importations of 110,000 to 120,000 tons yearly. There was no need to import coal at all if the normal output could be secured from the existing mines, and the behaviour of the miners was solely responsible for the shortage. , No solution was at present in sight, said Mi- Davis, who discussed the situation with the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, When the Minister was in Christchurch recently. “In spite of the Minister’s efforts to reduce imports of coal and make trade available to our New Zealand mines,” Mr Davis said, “and in spite of every endeavour. by colliery companies to assist him in this, results are definitely disappointing. Imports are actually increasing when the 'reverse should be the case. “I say, without hesitation, that the Minister has done everything he can do to help. The trouble is that the men won’t work. There will have to be some means of enabling mines to work longer hours to overcome the difficulty, whethei’ by working two or three shifts, or otherwise. It might be necessary to cut the week in half, and have one half of the men working one half of the week, and the rest of the men the other half. It might even mean the importation of additional miners. If our men will not work full normal time, it will be necessary to find more miners, even if they have to be brought from overseas. “The Minister has stated on several occasions that he would have to reconsider the matter of granting new leases to permit more mines to open. This would not help the position at all, and would only add further embarrassment to existing mines. EFFECT OF HIGH WAGES. “The real reason is not difficult to find,” Mr Davis continued. “It can be baldly stated as being caused by miners earning more money than they are accustomed to, leaving them with no necessity to go to work regularly. “To illustrate this, the superintendent of State Collieries pointed out in his last annual report that coal hewers at State mines earned on an average £1 16s 3d a man each day—in other words, £9 Is 3d for a five-day week. Earnings at other collieries are equally high. “It appears that three or four days weekly at such rates, provide these men with all they want, and, consequently, the most! trivial excuse is sufficient to render a mine idle for a day, or else the men just fail to turn up. “Some of our larger mines are losing up to 25 per cent of normal output through excess absenteeism and provocative stop-work meetings over trivial matters.” “The remedy for this state of affairs lies entirely with the men,” Mr Davis said.” A little co-operation from them would enable the Dominion to be entirely self-supporting in this important branch of industry. The men themselves would benefit, the industry would be more prosperous and the Dominion exchange position would be helped considerably.” “The hazardous and often unpleasant nature of mining work is fully recognised, and good wages are never grudged,” Mr Davis concluded, “but good wages carry also an obligation, or they cannot continue.”