WEST COAST MINERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 206, 13 June 1931, Page 5

WEST COAST MINERS.

THE TRIBUTE SYSTEM.

DECLARED “BLACK” BY MEN

. (Per Press Association). GREYMOUTH, June 12. The position on the coalfields has undergone no change since the miners stop-work meetings some time, ago, when the question of strike action against the wages reduction was considered. , , While a score of police recently sent there have returned to the North Island from the Charming Creek district where tribute mining has been introduced in opposition to the policy or the unions, many otherv police vet remain at Charming Creek. It is understoon the coal miners on the Coast hare declared the Charming Creek mine “black” also the Cascade Mine on account of the introduction of the I'lbute svstem. The position at Blackball is‘that the miners have been idle for months owing to a dispute or ei conditions and the sharing ot work. It is now reported that a party has been formed to work part of the Blackball Coal Company's area on co-operative lines without the tribute system lhe miners’ national and local officials have yet to decide their attitude towards the project. At Millerton the miners have worked only forty-nine days during the past six months which has resulted in distress so serious that the Government to-day were requested by Mr H. E. Holland, ALP., and the union, either to send relief or orders winch would result in a resumption of work. The Dobson mine is working only a single shift the men sharing the work in spite of the Railway Department s statement that the mine is not coping with its orders. . Tribute mining oil the Briandale field has resulted in it being also declared “black.” The tribute system, under which all the output must be sold to the mine-owners at a fixed rate is calculated in the miners’ opinion to break down the conditions of work obtaining anti also to weaken the union.