THE REEFTON STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1912, Page 5

THE REEFTON STRIKE.

THS 3THION'S VIEWPOINT. A MATTER OF SAFETY. , (By Telegraph. —Own Correspondent.) ; ' CBERISTCFCHOH;- this"-day. In the course of an interview 3lr. G. K. Crowley, president of the Inacgahns Miners' Union, said that the popper drill ■ did its work with great speed but it t caused intense vibration, not only of the i drill itself. but of the -whole face upon i which the operators were working. It , could only be used in an upright position, ; so that all drilling had to* be done in the roof of the heading. This intensified the [. danger of a collapse of the roof through the high vibration; and it had been the [ custom in the past, no matter what type of drill was being used, to have two men to each drill.one being charged with the duty pf keeping a close watna for indications of a collapse. With the Waiigh drill it was necessary that a spray should be kept going to carry off the dust. The Consolidated Goldfields Company decided that one man could operate a drill by himself the spray being attached to the drill. An increase of wages from £3 3/ to £3 10/ was offered to the men if they would undertake to do the vrork single-handed, but the offer was emphatically declined on the score of the extreme danger of working under such conditions, and on the ground that a breach of the agreement entered into •with the company and registered under the Arbitration Act, would be occasioned if they consented. The company met the refusal by telling the taen that their services were no longer required. The agreement contained a- provision that any dispute should be submitted to an independent arbitrator, whose award would be final. The men were -willing to submit- the case to an arbitrator but the company refused. Some time ago tho miners were asked by a new manager ta do all work under the contract system. This was declined on the ground that the contract system meant a lessening of precautions against danger. At WaM it -was contended that the adoption of the contract system was responsible for T5 per cent of the accidents. As the result of tie refusal to accept the contract system 400 were discharged, reducing the union membership to a little over 600. There are 40 Waugb. drills in use at • Reefton, and their stoppage means that no work in the mines can be proceeded ■srtth.

MECTSTER iWEL-i; .RECEIVED.

(By Telesraph-—Press Association.)

EEEFTOX, ThuTsdar. The men are utterly disgusted at tha long delay, and many are very tired of the road and Ta-Oway construction -work, as the weather has been terrible. A good rweption wfll be given to the Hon. J. GolvLn, -whose actioii in cominc; ■here is muc-b appreciated. The secretary of the Minors' Union, however, states that the miners ttiU not grant any concessions whatever, , but "will submit their case to the Minister.