COAL SITUATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1942, Page 4

COAL SITUATION

BAD IN NEW ZEALAND “WORK OR GET OUT.” AN OUTSPOKEN MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 24. If coal companies were not prepared to cooperate with the Government, he would recommend that their mines should be taken over by the State for the duration of the war. and if the miners would not work, they would be replaced by men who were now on active service. This statement was made by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, at a conference winch ire had convened and which was attended by coal mine owners and representatives of tiie Northern Miners’ Union. Mr Webb informed the conference that the coal situation in New Zealand was undoubtedly bad. It was to overcome the production difficulties that were facing the country that he had called the conference. He pointed out that last September, when a similar conference was held, an undertaking was given by tiie miners’ executive pledging the full support of their unions to the Government in its war effort to increase the production of coal. For months past, the industry in the -Waikato had been free of industrial trouble. The men had worked hard and had produced during the last six months nearly 30.000 tons of coal more than for the first six months of the previous year. Figures for that year had been considerably in excess of production figures for 1940. In the past three months production in the Waikato had increased by 13,000 tons. No malingerers would be tolerated in the mines, said Mr Webb. Men had to work or get out and take their places in the armed services. “I think you have let the country down badly in your lack of initiative in not providing dwellings for the men at the mines,” the Minister said in addressing the representatives of the mine-owners. Mr Webb concluded by saying the Government was prepared to give the mine-own-ers full co-operation, and the men had pledged their co-operation. It remained now for all to get together with a view to producing the maximum amount.