MINES IDLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 162, 10 July 1940, Page 3

MINES IDLE.

WAIKATO ACTION. MEN ATTEND FUNERAL. FIVE COMPANIES AFFECTED. The death of a miner who was injured in an accident at the Renown colliery last week was responsible for a stoppage of work at the Renown mine on Monday, and yesterday, also at the Taupiri, Pukemiro, Glen Afton and Walton mines yesterday. About 1000 men were affected, it is stated, and the loss of production was approximately 3000 tons. The Renown miners did not work on Monday as a gesture of respect to their late workmate, and all the Waikato mines s-topped work yesterday in order that the miners might attend the funeral. It is part of the agreement between the miners and the companies concerned that such action may be taken in the case of a miner who dies in such circumstances. There was no dispute regarding the stoppage and all the mines were working to-day, but complaint is made by the companies that this action by the men at a time when coal production is so important was uncalled for and unnecessary. Effect on Production. "We can understand tile men sympathising deeply with the bereaved relatives of their late workmate," stated a mining executive to-day, "but these stoppages are becoming a serious matter. At a time of national emergency a serious stoppage of this kind cannot be viewed with equanimity. I "How would it affect New Zealand if workers in othe.r industries stopped work every time they lost one of their workmates?" he asked. "Why should this sort of thing be peculiar to mines? At the present time, when the country is almost ble.eding for coal, such stoppages have reached the height of absurdity. We feel that the position could quite easily have been met if delegates had bee-n sent from each mine to attend the. funeral." The executive stated that it would be interesting to see exactly how many of the miners actually attended the funeral. To his knowledge the proportion was small. The mines of four of the companies concerned were located within a radius of four to five mines, but the Wilton mine was about eight miles away. It was pointed out that the wages men concerned would have lost their pay. for the time they were not working, but the pay of the salaried men would continue. There was 110 production to offset that loss to the companies. It was not, however, the loss to the companies on which the complaint was based, but the loss of coal production to the country at a time when it was of great national importance.