COAL OR CHAOS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 4

COAL OR CHAOS?

WAIKATO STRIKE

MINISTER'S CONFIDENCE

"We had to choose between coal and chaos," said the Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb, to-day when commenting upon the arrangement made between the employers, the workers and the Government in respect to the control of the Waikato coal mines. "Making the mines a Governmentcontrolled industry is purely a war measure," he continued. "When the mines recommenced operations a fortnight ago over 60 factories, in addition to freezing and fertiliser works, were within a week of exhaustion of coal supplies. Had the strike continued another seven days the whole of the industries in the North Island would have been compelled to close down.

The situation has been saved by the resumption of work and 1 am looking forward with confidence for a continuation of production that will keep industries working to the maximum. Before the settlement the situation had developed so seri°usly that it ill became any section of the public to look for political advantage from what had occurred. It was a time for realism and the lacing up to economic necessity."

"Big Stick" Methods

Mr. Webb recalled a statement he nad made when the strike commenced. He said he had told the men that they must resume work and have the trouble sent to the industrial disputes committee for settlement according to their rules. "This was done before the rnen returned to w 9 r i k > the Minister said. "I also said the law would have to be upheld, l his, too, was accomplished. The men in the mine where the strike originated have had their sentences of imprisonment suspended for the uuration of »he war. . " p ast experience should have taught all those who were crying out lor the use of the 'big stick' that such methods only aggravate a delicate situation. Miners, above all workers, will not be bludgeoned. Most of tnem can see reason and reason ultimately prevailed. Neither the owners nor the Government believed that imprisonment of the men would have got the country out of its economic trouble. On the other hand, it would have created bitter antagonism and the trouble would perhaps have spread to other fields of industrial activity. I said at the time that no influence must be allowed to militate against the nation's war effort. A clarion call had sounded for an allin policy of national unity for the wat period and any influence standing in the way of the maximum war effoi t must be met with the full powers of the State."

Mine Owners' Attitude The Minister said that before the h' t n| ( i!'f n r l l cl f ided on state contiol of the Waikato coal mine industry endeavours had been made to obtain suggestions which would lead I?Jl 0 » S V mptlon , o£ mini ng. but unfortunately no alternative scheme to that adopted was forthcoming It was held in many quarters that the Hn e wn n0 u acce P t the terms laid the case not proved to be

Asked what was the attitude of tne coal owners to the arrangements Mr. Webb said they were opposed to any form of State inter,believing that such action -aui tak , in e awav their rights Although they thought the Govf™'" nacl taken a wrong step t,? Sr l to c °-°perate in order that the best could be done for the war effort," he said. "To thencredit they never once made any mention oi financial lo& that mi«h't " C 'V,i fGel confident that with the S?" operation th at can be bi ought about by the system of i epi esentation on a board of miners employers and the Government excellent results will be shown I will be surprised if any hitch occurs during the war period. I feel sure that the arrangement will be satisfactorv all round and that every ton of coal hewn .P os to Produce will be

Mr. Webb concluded by savin™ that nationalisation of the mines was never contemplated during anr stage of the proceedings That could only be redded as an election issue to be follows i by Parliamentciry action in the usual waj'.

RECORD OUTPUT

NEW COAL METHODS

PRE-WAR AVER AM; EXCEEDED

Wa ikato mines pro- ♦ lb ' 83 2 tons of coal, bro to 1000 tons more than the uvcraee pre-strike output of the mines week before—the first week after the men resumed work—the mines put out 16,152 tons despite a cwpll 3L- st °P.-wrk meetings and other delays inseparable from mines reopening after being closed for "some

This information was given touFki yl i Minister of Mines Mr. Webb, who said that he anticipated 3Mr u! 1 l i!k increase in production. Mr. Webb said that opinions had acceDteff re rh S p d r- hat even if the men fvT~f p .j Government's terms w °uld limit production. That ?vP ei r no ' been borne out by the facts. "I placed my trust in the men," he said. "They alone can produce the coal so urgently needed. The great majority of the section of* thl 4 any other section of the community to null their weight, and I am pleased to see that my confidence has not been misplaced. I felt sure that the men will continue to produce to their utmost capacity so that there win bSdy» enty ° f SUpplles f °" «'?ry!

Machine Methods New methods of work had been agreed to by the men for increasing production, the Minister said. Thev had adopted a system of co-operativp contract truckfng. Experience in other mines had shown that the system made for a definite increase m output, in some cases up to 25 per cent. In addition, the men had agreed to the use of machines fnr coal pillars Prev!ous?v unions! prohibited by the

step wiJI mean a considerable increase in production nf of coal," said M r j , * have been reliablv informed that since the men returned to work they h3VG record for production in mSst 5f tht mines The Railway Department alone has benefited to the extern of between 8000 and 9000 tons, which has been placed to its reserves since the mines re-opened. This will avnirt any further ' Cuts . in the as far as coal is concerned."