MINE STOPPAGES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 4

MINE STOPPAGES

Mr. J. Melling of Huntly South has given us an explanation of the cause of the recent stoppage on account of the "cold powder room." From the account given it would appear that this room should not be cold; but it is more important to know if the management had been approached with a request to have the conditions remedied before the stoppage was decided on, or if the channels provided for the settlement of disputes were used in this case, or if this was just another instance of "the foolish and trivial stoppages we have experienced" for so long. For a long period of years, as far back as I can remember, we have had stoppages for one reason or another, and resumption was only brought about when the men obtained a considerable measure of their demands. Over a long period this must have meant a very considerable improvement in working conditions. When we add to this the demands obtained under the periodical awards, including reduction of hours and increases in pay, we are entitled to conclude that the conditions must now be reasonably satisfactory, yet in spite of this we continue to suffer from frequent stoppages when the coal is so urgently needed. A.A.H.