STATE CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1942, Page 2

STATE CONTROL

OVER WAIKATO COAL MINES ESTABLISHED FOR PERIOD OF WAR. REGULATION OF WORKING & PROFITS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Regulations providing for the control of the Waikato coal mines were passed at a meeting of the Executive Council on Saturday afternoon. The mines covered by the regulations 'are those owned by the Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., Pukiini.ro Colleries Ltd. Renown., Collieries, Ltd Taupiri Coal Mines. Ltd., and Wilton Collieries (1934), Ltd. The control is to cease on the termination of the present war.

A board of control, to be known as the Waikato Coal Mines Control Board, is to be established. It will consist of the Minister of Mines, who will be chairman, four persons appointed by the Minster as representing the owners of controlled mines, two persons appointed by the Minister as representing the workers employed in the controlled mines, and one other person appointed by the Minister. At all meetings of the board four members will constitute a quorum, and the chairman will have a deliberative vote, and in the case of an equality of votes he will also have a casting vote. Members of the board may be paid out of the War Expenses Account such remuneration by way of salary, fees or allowances, and such travelling allowances and expenses as the Minister of Finance may direct or approve. Any directions given by the board may relate to (a) the methods of workin the mine; (b) the plant, machinery, rolling stock and equipment to be used, and the building and workers’ accommodation to be provided; (c) the employment or dismissal of specified persons as managers or other officers; (b) the employment of such work as may be specified, or the dismissal of specified workers or classes or numbers of workers, and the terms and conditions of such employinent.

If the net profits of a mine exceed the average net profits of the undertaking, the amount of the excess will be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown, and will be paid into the War Expenses Account, but if the net profits are less than the average the amount of the deficiency will be paid to the owners out of the War Expenses Account.

The average net profits will be deemed to be the average of the net profits for the three financial years immediately precedng the financial year in which the mine is subject to control. Provision is made for proportionate increase in the average in the event of the capital cost of the fixed assets being recorded at a higher figure. If the quantity of coal produced is reduced below the quantity produced in the three preceding years because of flood, explosion or other natural disaster, the average net profits will be deemed, to be reduced in proportion to the reduction in output of coal. Every person who commits an offence against the regulations will be liable on summary conviction to the following penalties: — In case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding £5O, and if the offence is a continuing one to a further fine not exceeding £5 for every day during which the offence continues; in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding £2OO, and if the offence is a contnuing one to a further fine not exceeding £2O for every day during which the offence continues.

The regulations, which are known as the Waikato Coal-mines Control Emergency Regulations, 1942, have been made under the Emergency Regulations Act 1939.