PRODUCTION OF COAL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25207, 11 June 1947, Page 4

PRODUCTION OF COAL

miners asked for GREATER EFFORT PREPARATION FOR 35-HOUR WEEK “The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, June 10. The mine workers of New Zealand are being asked by the United Mine Workers Council to step up production to a new goal during the next four months. If this can be achieved, a , c . a^ e will be made out f or reduction of the miners’ working hours to seven hours and the week to 35. It is hoped that the reduced hours will be in force early next year. Mr G. W. S. Grant, secretary of the Australian Coal Miners’ Federation who has attended the Labour conferences as Australian delegate, and was presented at the annual meeting of the Mine Workers’ Council in Wellington, said: It is evident to me that if the mine workers are prepared to step up production during the next four months to assist the Governjnent to get the 2,900,000 tons of coal that are required, which only calls for about ocwt of coal an employee at the coal face, or about 3cwt an employee in the coal mines in New Zealand, then they will have a 35-hour week by January, 1948. “I join with the executive and the United Mine Workers’ Council of New Zealand in appealing to’their men to give this extra effort. It is not only beneficial to the miners, but also it is essential to supply coal for the country’s needs, because coal is essential to keep all industries working.”