DISMISSALS FROM STOCKTON MINE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27048, 25 May 1953, Page 8

DISMISSALS FROM STOCKTON MINE

UNION ALLEGES M COMPANY CONTROL “200 MEN RUTHLESSLY PUSHED ASIDE” (Neto Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, May M Two hundred men have been dis* missed from the Stockton State cosi mine, “ruthlessly pushed aside to givs the American-controlled Downer and Company the sole right ‘to raina 20,000,000 tons of coal by thait methods,” says a statement issued tonight by the Stockton Miners’ Uni® president (Mr F. Connew) and SKW tary (Mr A. R. Fleming). The statement says that on May 8 80 men employed at the Stockton mtM received notice of the termination d their services, and that so far W members of the union have been d> pensed with. In many cases, the missed men had 20 years’ service m the mine. The statement criticises the miners national officials for “doing nothing to prevent the Mines Department’! policy being put into effect, and conclude*- 4 “Never have so many been sacrifices by so few for so much.” , The text of the statement is aa lows;—

“With a viciousness unparalleled u> the history of mining in recent year* 80 men at Stockton received dismissal notices on May 22. Men with, in mao? cases, 20 years’ service to their ere®' have had their employment ruthlessly terminated, and those who have gives their health and ability to work in the industry have been stood aside as no longer fit to earn their living at a* mining. “Some Men on Compensation” “Even men who are at prelent » compensation through mine injuria have received their dismissal notices. “Some men have been retained » dismantle equipment, but quite a nunc ber of those have been at Stockto” for on’y a short time, while othen with longer service have been tramferred to Denniston. Others have sW' ply been dismissed. “The management has been' ven busy making provision to transfer mej to Denniston, but it must be realise® that in order to reach Denniston W starting time, it will be necessary w these men to leave home in time * catch transport services at 6 a.m. Tn*? will not be able to return home bw®” 6 p.m.. if they are to do a full day» “At Denniston an aerial ropeway W® be completed inside 12 months, *®“ again another big rush will come, B® to where? M “When it is realised that there no alternative •avenues of employnjw to be had in the district, the posit*®of the men will become very P*' indeed. ... “To date, 200 men have been missed from Stockton, rutjugg pushed aside to give the Amenc® controlled Downer and Company sole right to mine 20,000,000 tons * coal by their methods. _ “In spite of constructive propwfj; by the Stockton union to open alwtwj tive areas, the management and % Mines Department have treated efforts to secure more coal with c®» temot. «( “For instance, a proven new ~ 10.000.000 tons of hard coal under Millerton township is to 11* Pj developed, while men are lost v> industry.”