COAL MINE INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1922, Page 7

COAL MINE INDUSTRY.

VARIATION OF AWARD WANTED. COURT UXABLE TO COMPLY. An application was made to the Arbitration Court t.hia morning by Mr. O'Brien for an alteration in the award ~ governing the Taupiri mines, especially in regard to the use of safety lamps. His Honor pointed out that the union 1 had not appeared before the Court when the award was made, and the Court put in what appeared to them would meet the case. They had tried to put the spirit of the national agreement of 1920 1 j into the award and did their best with ■ I the material before them. The only t' way an alteration could 1» made now • j iva,a 'by agreement between the parties. t Mr. O'Brien said that matters covered • iv previous awards were not included s in the present award. The employers • had refused to meet them. t His Honor said thai unless there was 1! an agreement between the parties the 1 ! Court could not do anything. The " Court tos always most willing to hear what either *ide had to say. but the ' position was made awkward when the ' j union did not appear. ; j Mr. T. O. Bishop, tor the employers, ' I said that the agreement ivas working ' exceedingly well since it came into operation. So far there was no reason advanced for departing from it. A conference "was a«ked for and granted, but there was nothing brought forward that justified any alteration. The things left out of the present award were omitted at the suggestion of the employers. Mr. O'Brien said that the application was made not so much from a wages or conditions point of view, 'but to ensure safety. Mr. O'Brien said that the mine man,-?- ---> per stated that the inspector had notli- . ing to do with the matter. He, the ! manager, could work the mine as he t liked." ; His Honor Said that the court had • no power to alter the award. If the t Inspector of Mines could not take stop 3 I to make the mines safe then that was ; a matter for legislation. He, however, could not understand how it was lie could not carry put his duties. The, • court regretted that the union did not > appear when an application for :n' • award was made. He thought that th<! ■ company would. only be too willing to ; take etetis to make the mine safe. Mr. T. O. Bishop said that it was > most improper for Mr. O'Brien r.o come . to the court and make such charges > against the Taupiri company. The ■ charges were without foundation. The i company had never spared any expense to make their mine safe, and he could l' give that assurance on behalf of all the ; companies. They were willing to adopt > any measure that would increase ; safety. However, the companies were . not prepared to allow the ordinary miner 1 to dictate how the mine ehould be ■ managed. The inspector ha<l power to [ draw out every man from the mine if he thoupht there was any risk, i Mr. O'Brien pointed out that the trade: • had fallen off and the men'were only ; working six days h fortnight. Mr. Bishop said that the conipiny had recently lost a contract for supplying the railway.*, and this was Cause.l . through heavy stocks having been im- . ported from overseas. It was anticii pated. liowevqr. that trade would in- , create in household coal during the ; month. His Honor eai.i that the court eoald .do nothing in regard lo the matter. If

the company was approached for a conference it would comply with the request, and if an agreement was conic to on the point, in dispute the award would be amended accordingly.