COAL IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 234, 3 October 1931, Page 19

COAL IN THE NORTH.

HIKURANGI CO.'S VIEWPOINT.

ASSISTANCE NEEDED.

The rejoinder of the Hikurangi Coal Company to the elaims v of the deputation from the Waro Co-operative Collieries and the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce to Mr. A. J. Murdoch on Thursday, was made yesterday by Mr. L. J. Stevens, a director of the Hikurangi Coal Company. He said his company viewed with grave surprise the activities of the miners in control of the Waro Co-operative Collieries. Referring to the deputation from the Waro Co-operative Collieries, which waited on the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce, and has since interviewed the Hikurangi Town Board', he said that apparently it sought part of the railway business supplied by the Hikurangi Company. "At the present time the other 'company has just as much business as Hikurangi. The complaint made to the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce that the co-operative collieries had only £500 available weekly for the payment of wages, places the company in no worse a position than our company," he added. The steady trade of both was 800. tons a week, the only difference being that while the Waro Co-operative Collieries were paying their men according to results achieved, the Hikurangi Company was bound to pay award' rates.

The deputation"" stated, he said, that the 178 men employed by their company were averaging less than £3 a week". The same number of employed at Hikurangi would have involved an average pay of over £5 a week. It would thus appear that any pressure that the local bodies were able to bring should be exerted in favour of Hikurangi. In any case, Mr. Stevens thought that the Waro Co-operative Collieries had not placed the matter fairly before the local bodies. ....

"The employment of 178 men to' secure an output of 800 tons of coal is unreasonable," he added. "The amount could be achieved. by 100 men, which would allow" an average rate of pay of £5. : I do not complain of the extent of the labour employed by the Waro Cooperative Collieries, but if they choose to divide their work in such a way, when it is limited, they should not make it the subject, for complaint to local bodies. No company employing union labour could afford to conduct business in that way."

The Waro Collieries were on a favourable basis, in the opinion of those with a knowledge of the coal trade, Mr. Stevens added. It was working pillar coal, which was at once accessible and cheaply worked. If the co-operative mine was Avorked on <a reasonable principle no difficulties should be experienced in meeting costs on a sales basis of 800 tons, and at the same time paying a fair remunerative wage. "The mine which requires the utmost assistance is Hikurangi." Mr. Stevens considered that before local bodies gave consideration to increasing the trade of the co-operative concern, support should be given to Hikurangi. . The minimum output required at the Hikurangi mine so that the mine could ke,ep going was 1200 tons per week. On the other hand, if the co-operative collieries were worked in an efficient manner, Mr. Stevens considered that the mine could be carried on with an output of 800 tons weekly.