SERIOUS VIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 8

SERIOUS VIEW

MINE STOPPAGES HUNTLY DISPUTE DECIDED PAYMENT TO WORKER WAGES AND OUTPUT LOST (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday The seriousness of stoppages of work in coal mines in wartime is stressed in the unanimous decision of the National Disputes Committee regarding the MacDonald mine dispute over wet-time payment to William Nuttall on one day in August. The committee’s decision is that the wet-time amount provided in the agreement should be paid to him for this day. The committee points out that the decision is not to be interpreted as a ruling that this job is to be considered a wet-time job on every day it is raining. The committee expresses the opinion that the dispute should have been capable of settlement by the local disputes committee at Huntly. There is, however, a much more serious aspect of the case than the actual dispute. The mine was stopped and was idle for three days, and after work was resumed and the disputes committee failed to reach an agreement, work was again stopped on a trivial pretext. The MacDonald mine was idle for six days and the Glen Aftcfn mine for two days without any justification whatever. The loss in output was approximately 6000 tons and the loss in wages not less than £2OOO. “Even in ordinary times the action of those responsible for bringing about such a stoppage of work would be highly reprehensible, but these are not ordinary times,” the committee says. “It is in the interests of all parties that disputes be settled promptly and reasonably, and that matters which are relatively unimportant should not be aggravated in such a way as to create hostile feelings unnecessarily. “Any persons not prepared to deal with disputes in this reasonable way are endangering the welfare of the whole mining community. It is urged on all parties that disputes be dealt with strictly in accordance of the terms of the agreement and that until the machinery provided in the agreement has been used to the full no stoppage shall occur.”