MINERS' PLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 13

MINERS' PLIGHT

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT

10 SUE BANKRUPT COMPANY

A large deputation representing every section of the Labour movement made a request to the ActingPrime Minister ana the Minister of Labour to-day that the Government should pay the wages due to miners at Kaitangata, who have been affected' by the closing of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company's mines. ■

The chief spokesman -was Mr. W. N»sh, secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, who stated that the mines had been slack for. some time. On 16th .December last three weeks' wages were 'due to the miners, and the men were, informed that the wages were not available, but that they wouia be paid the next day. On the same day Hie company's manager, Mr. Lee, stated that if the men would continue working until 23rd December it would help the company in the financial arrangements it was -making, whereupon the men agreed. Up to the present no payment had been made, and the position on 3rd February was that a total o* £7112 -was owing to about 270 men. The legal aspects of the'case had been investigated by the Miners' "Union, and the union had been advised that as the company consisted of English shareholders there was a possibility of a claim under an English statute, but that it was limited to wages earned' within two months of the issue of the windingnp_ order. To prosecute the claim the union paid over its funds to the solicitors and.left itself practically penniless. The result of the action.was not yet available. 4 THE MEN'S CASE. Mr. Nash went on to refer to previous representations to the Ministers, and particularly called attention to the following submissions:— : . That the non-payment of the wages waa a -breach of award; that if the facts were known to the Labour Department it should have taken actionthat the men aid all they could to asBwt the company, even to the extent of working another week, although three weeks' wages were overdue the safety men were still: working Without wages, and by so doing, they were saving not only a company asset, I?at a Dominion asset; that wages to the amount of £7112 had been earned tod ■ were due; that the coal obtained fiy the wages, for which wages had not been paid had been sold, and someOne had taken the proceeds; that the' company was protected because of its foreign registration, and,that the miners would have: better recourse if the company, was, registered in New Zeattnd, ana. subject to action in the New Zealand •.Court; that they couia apparently take.the assets without meeting |tfae liabilities, ana the.remedy was not witninthe province .of the laws of the Dominion, but had to be exorcised under an English Statute: ■: ACTION AGAINST THE COMPANY. _ The deputation therefore urged that tfce Government should pay the wages already earned, and take over the f *£? men aSainst the company. This, Mr. Nash submitted, would not create any dangerous precedent in that the Minister of Mines had decided to introduce^ legation during the next session of Parliament which wouia prevent a future happening 6t a like naV, j, c mmes were assets and capable of economic working to provide coal the company should be notified Dt tue^position ana aanger if the mines were deserted,. and failing immediate action the Government should take whatever steps that were necessary to safeguard the natural resources of the Dominion. It was further, asked that employment should be provided for the nnemployea workers until the . mine was reopened: In conclusion, Mr. Nash Urged immediate action. \ Mr. J. Boberts saia that the miners Had been cheated of what was their proper due, and only the • Government could help them. The common-sense thing, therefore, was for the Government to pay the men and recovor the money from the company, which obviously had set out to cheat the men of wages honestly earned. The Government should not allow a company consisting of shareholders residing in England to close aown a mine ana thus affect the coal supply of the Dominion. « sKouia safeguard the mine. Mr. F Cornwell, representing . the frades Council, endorsed the remarks £>t the previous speakers. CREATING A PECEDENT. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W.Dowme Stewart)' pointed out that Hie proposals wouia open up quite a new departure in .Government responsibility and render the Government open to Similar claims from, other workers in a Similar position. The Governmentyhad already secured work for the married minors/ and it would endeavour to fina reasonable work for the others. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) saia he wouia do his level best to recover the men's money for them.