CHANGE TO SEASONAL WORK

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23494, 24 November 1941, Page 6

CHANGE TO SEASONAL WORK

MEN WITHDRAWN FROM COAL MINES (0.R.) GREYMOUTH, November 23. To take up seasonal and more congenial outdoor employment, a good number of men engaged in coal mines in the Greymouth district have left their employment in the last few weeks. The bulk of the men who have taken this step are truckers and shiftmen, whose capacity earnings are less re--munerative than other employees. Their earnings are governed by smooth working time, whereas the miners can make up lost time, because their incomes for coal hewing are based on contract rates. Generally, because of their excess over the normal living wage rate, a lost shift or two does not greatly affect their earning capacity, whereas with the trucker a lost shift can never be made up. " Because these men are leaving the mines, it is mooted that, to keep production up to a reasonable figureeven though the demand is now decreasing because of the advent of -warmer weather—miners will have to • be taken off coal and put back on and on shiftwork. The men most likely to be selected are those last placed on coal faces under the turn system. The State mines at Rewanui and Nine Mile are most affected so far and, . while there have been more than a • score of withdrawals, replacements have not reached a third of this total. The position could easily develop into a serious one, as at the present rate of withdrawals production can be adversely affected.