GO-SLOW MINERS’ APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 127, 24 February 1944, Page 4

GO-SLOW MINERS’ APPEALS

Adjournment By Board CHANCE FOR MEN TO WORK PROPERLY

Dominion Special Service. GREYMOUTH, February 23. _ Reserved decision in the , appeals against military service by 116 employ ees of the Strongman and Liverpool State mines which were reviewed by the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Greymouthon Monday was delivered, by the chairman, Brigadier-General W. Mc»drum, this morning, as follows:— “In all the appeals now under review the original appeals were made by , the superintendent of the State coal mine* on behalf of the reservists on the grounds of public interest. Coalmining has been declared an essential occupation aud under instructions from the National Service Department it has been the policy of toe appeal boards to grant postponement of service in the armed forces in respect of all employees in the industry who are working satisfactorily. In cases where a reservist’s work has been unsatisfactory or his attendances irregular, it has been the practice of this board to adjourn the hearing of the appeal for a term tv give the reservist a further chance of making good. If at the adjourned hearing it is proved that his work and a* tendance have become satisfactory, sine die adjournments have ■ been granted. This practice has had uniformly goon results. “In the cases now under review it is contended on behalf of the Crown lha. the men are not working satisfactorily and that no further postponement Ol their service in the armed forces sbouic be granted. Evidence has been given to show that after January 31 last meetings of the Runanga State Miners’ Union were held and a policy of go-slow was started at both the Liverpool aud Strongman State mines. A series ot tables put in indicated that in the pas three weeks there has been a sudden drO|> in the output of coal from both mines of over 33 per cent. Evidence was given to show that attendances at work had become irregular. On the evidence sub mitted the board was of the opinion thai during the past three weeks neither thwprk of the reservists nor their attendance has been satisfactory. The board considers it proved that a go-slow policy has been adopted by members of the union and that all reservists who are members of the union must be held to have participated in its adoption. Adherence to Principle.

“The main question for the board t*> consider is whether the evidence before them would justify them in varying thepractice they have hitherto found successful. A great increase in number does not alter the principle. They are in, fiuenced. moreover, by the following facts: First, there is a shortage of em-. ployees in the coalmining industry and the present production of coal is inadequate to meet essential requirements’ secondly, the manager of the Liverpool mine said that 90 per cent, of the men are all right, but 10 per cent, are not. The board has no doubt that if given a chance these 90 per cent, will mena their ways and will help the other 10 per cent, to do so, too. On these-grounds the board adjourns all the appeals under review to Wednesday, March 15. If the results then show that the reservists file doing good work, sine die adjournments will be granted. If not, the board will have to the appeals. “With regard to the 12 reservists who have asked the board to dismiss the appeals made on their behalf as they wish to serve with the armed forces, the board Adjourns these also to March 15 but makes the intimation that the management should make every effort in the meantime to have their places filled.” The board then proceeded to deal with 163 cases of married men. In the case of 19 members of the Deputies an] Engine Drivers’ Union, who had no connexion with the miners’ union, their appeals were further adjourned sine die. Sir. W. D. Taylor, representing the reservists, announced that a number of men wanted to oppose the adjournments, as they desired to enter the armed forces and. as on the first day, 12 names were forthcoming. The board made similar decisions as in the cases of the single men.

LINTON MINE IDLE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, February 23. The Linton mine was idle again today as the result of a dispute between thv miners and the truckers. A stop-work meeting was held at 8 o’clock this morning and lasted till 11.30, when the employees returned to their homes. It is understood that the miners complained that they could not get sufficient boxes because the truckers knocked off ‘ too early. This makes the fourth complete day lost since the mine resumed operations on January 10, and it means a further loss in output of coal of 450 tons. The total loss in output in 33 possible working days since January 10 has been pu* down at 1800 tons.