MEN TO RESUME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 684, 8 December 1909, Page 7

MEN TO RESUME.

STATE COAI STRIKE, A PROMISE OF EQUAL CONDITIONS. INTERVIEW WITH PREMIER. LEADERS WILL ADVISE MEN TO GO BACK TO WORK. What appears to be tho semi-final round of the contest between tho executive of tho New Zealand Minors' Federation and tho Government was fought out behind closed doors'yesterday evening, when a conference was'held inithe Prime Minister's office. Tho conference commenced at 5.30, and lasted for an hour and three-quarters, during which time tho whole position was vigorously threshed out.

Besides the Prlmo Minister and the representatives of tho federation, there were present: The Hon. R. MlCenzio. Messrs; A., B. Guinness (Greymouth), J. Colvin (Bullcr), Greenslado (Waikato), Soddon (Wcslland), Poland (Ohinomuri), M.P.'s, and Mr. P. J. O'Regan, the legal adviser of tho federation. The conference was not decided upon until lato in tho day, the Government having insisted on the Minors' Executive putting its caso in writing, a course which the federation was hot disposed to follow. While tho parties were i standing off in this position, the legal adviser of the federation stepped in and wrote to tho Prime Minister, suggesting a conference, and giving the position of affairs, tho result being that tho conference was arranged.

Regarded as a Conquering Hero, "When tho conference ended, Mr. Somplo, president of tho federation, who has played a prominent part in the proceedings to date, had vory few words to Bay when approached by a representative of The Domikiok. "We have to vrait developments—that is all I can tell yon," said Mr. Scmple, who was immediately claimed for hearty congratulations by persons who, as though having inside inforniatjon, apparently looked upon the delegate in tho light of a conqueror.

Mr. Manning, secretary of tho federation, said he had nothing to commnnicate to the press, but aftor an informal conference it was decided that Mr, O'Repnn should ho deputed to supply a statement to the press, An Official Statement, Tho official' statement supplied by Mr. O'Regan, as as under — "Wo assembled in Wellington for several reasons—we know that the men now on strike havo substantial grievances, mo felt certain that it nas desirable to explain these fully to, Ministers, and we knew from experience that; nothing. is so satisfactory as a personal interview. -That the State miners at Point Klizabcth have a good case is easily shown. For years past they havo been dissatisfied with the trneking conditions to which minprfl aro theie subject. Clause 13 of the industrial agreement, which has just expired, reads ■as follows.— if' 'Miners working in bords to truck their coal from the working face to the flat-sheet and run first jig. Jig not to exceed two pillars. If required to truck Over 50 yards up to 75 yards, 3d. per ton extrn to he paid, and ?d. per ton for every additional 25 yards.' Indictment of Trucking System. "In order to understand what this means it must be explained that tv.o pillars means a distance of one hundred yards, and hence of two men at the face ono man must bo continually trucking. Tha men feci vory strongly that this is unfair, and hence they ask that there should be a sub-division of labour—that tho trucking should be done by truckers, and that tho miner should remain continuously throughout his shift 'it' tho' face. Now, the opinion has been sedulously created that in asking for this condition, the men aTO asking to bo placed in a position better than that obtaimpg at other mines. Such is not tho case. On tho contrary, the men are asking to bo placed in the samo position as that which 1 obtains in other mines. In no mine in tho i country cxpapt the State mine at Point Elizoi both and tho Blackball mine aro miners asked ! to truck coal such a distance as ono hundred i yards, In nope of tho North Island mines jis any truekinK dono by n miner. At Deni niston practically no trucking is dono by a | miner. At Millerton a miner is never asked ito truck. It is trno that in tho State mipe at Seddomille it is ptovided that no miner shall truck moi-p than twenty-two yards, but I in actual practice a miner never trucks at Seddonvillo. It will thus be seen that tho men now on strike are asking merely to bo placed in a jiosltion Of equality with 'tho remaining coal-mines of tho Domiqion,

More Men, But Bigger Output. "It is admitted that to separate the duties of tmoker and miner will imply the employ, ment of an additional eighteen or twenty men. But as against this it should bo borne in mind tha(: the output must bo greatly increased when tho miner is ablo to spend his wholo time in the face hewing coal. In any case wo are confident that the great majority of the people of New Zealand will support our view—that tho miners cinplpjcd by tho State should enjoy conditions not less advantageous than tho«o already vlcndod by private employers, Apart from the utility of the propo-al that minors should not truck coal, the argument from a humanitarian point of view is irresistible, The following are the main reasoji6 in support from this point of view.— . "1, In tho mine at Point Elizabotb. tho pillars aie exceptionally high, being not less than fourteen feet. This means that tho work of timbering is more than ordinarily difficult and dangerous, and hence it is absolutely necessary that not less than two men should attend to the timbering. To leave one man by himself at such wort is to court accidents. "2. The miner white working at tho face Rets into a heavy perspiration Directly no leaves the face with his truok of coal ho removes into an airway where there is a strong current of cold air, and ho is often obliged to stand there for ten or fifteen minutes, with the result that ho is prone to ■■ oontraot-a ohill, and in any caso ho is not fully fit to how coal when ho returns to tho face after 6uch an experience. Apart, theroforo, from the increased efficacy of labour in consequent of leaving tho minor his full timo at tho faco, tho cliiuge asked for by the miners means a i educed accident risk and improved health conditions for the mon,

"8. Tho miners in this particular' mine are - obliged' to ; use safety lamps: Nov?, the effect. o£ these lamps is in time to seriously impair the eyesight, and hence it .' • ■: (3 absolutely, dangerous that men who ~ We ; obliged, to use.safety lamps;should .'...-■ be obliged also to do the work of-truck- . uig and jigging. This, work is not ■ \ stalled work, as compared with' that.of the miner, but it is work which can be done with much greater safety and effi- , oacy.byi young, active men in possession ___ of all,their bodily faculties. ' ■Minister for Mines to ,Visit Colliery. :■'.'■ 'TJndar all the oiroumstanoes; ■: we were anxious to interview, the Prime 1 Minister and his ooileagne, the Minister for Mines. '; "As a result of a.conference with these gentlemen-.'. this evening, we ■':■'■ have obtained their* assurance that .. -', the, Minister for Mines will him•l; self visit the mineaftcr the session, ' j and will Inquire Into everything a]- , loged by uj, wKh a view: to giving .the men at Point Elizabeth conditions not less favourable than thoso now obtaining at the other mines.' Under these, circumstances,, tho executive has decided to advise the. . men now ot, strike,to resume work." • Before leaving for Greymouth last night Mr. bemplo telographcd to the Grey, asking that a meeting of miners should be arranged to meet himon -Friday morning, when tho result of tho .visit to Wellington will, be disoussod. ,«■'■» understood that Mr. Sample will a<mso the men to go back to work. - - The MapouHka.: Was delayed for over two hours last night in order to.onable tho mining delegates, to get back'to the aoastas soon as their oonterenoe with the Prime Minister was OT«r. Tha contaonoe began *t WO p.m. and concluded at 705 poa. , ;