EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 138, 8 March 1945, Page 7

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

Miners Unable To Save Anything (Received March 7, 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. The president of the Miners’ Federation. Mr. 11. Wells, admitted at the coal inquiry today that coal employees had gained “rather more” in wage increases than the general body of workers since 1942. Most working-class homes, he said, were succeeding in keeping going only because the father, sons and daughters and often the mother were working. Wages had been pegged, but there had been big increases in taxation and living costs. Under present conditions, workers were unable to save anything against the future. This feeling affected their incentive to throw all their weight into their work. Because he was over-tired, the average miner after having a meal at home, lay down on a couch daily from 3.45 p.m. to S p.m.. said Mr. Wells. At 8 p.m. the miner had supper and went to bed. Mr. Wells said that absenteeism should be tackled not only from the increased production angle but “to get miners off the couch.” The nervous strain of arguments at the pit-top, which often finished in physical encounters, contributed to absenteeism. He said some miners stopped as it suited them. The federation was trying to overcome that and to drive the miners to work. “We have found it necessary to apply some authority to discipline miners, but our efforts have not been very good,” lie said.