STATE MINES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 55, 2 September 1927, Page 11

STATE MINES

' YEAR'S OPERATIONS

DISCUSSED BY MEMBERS

The operations of the State coal mines were reviewed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, following the presentation of the annual report of the State Mines Department. Speaking after "The Post" went to press, Mr. D. Jones (Elleßmere) said he was glad to hear Mr. Parry's remarks regarding the value of co-opera-tion. He was quite satisfied that the system of co-operation would settle most of the disputes between the masters and men, and would do away with a great deal of the trouble that existed at the present time. A worker was entitled to get all that he earned, and it would be interesting, to know what the co-operative miners on the West Coast were earning. The price of coal was a very serious matter for the householder, said Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West). It appeared that the middle man could put an extra shilling on the price of coal without any objection on the part of the Government, but if the miners asked for an extra penny or twopence one would think that the social revolution had arrived. The miners were still waiting for an opportunity of having something to say in the control of the industry. This had been advocated nine years ago by no less an authority than the present Minister of Finance, but so far nothing had been done. • .

Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) also advocated that the miners should be given a voice in the management of the mines. He recalled the statement by the present Minister of Finance, who, he felt sure, would stick to .his guns and tell the Cabinet that the time had now arrived to give the system a trial. Mr. Fraser said that no adequate reasons had yet been given for the increase that had taken place recently in the price of coal. Replying to the discussion, the Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) said reference had been made to the losses resulting from the operation of the State mines. The -Minister pointed out that during the- war period there had been no increase in the price of coal, and this had resulted in considerable losses. - ;

The Leader of the Opposition: "What explains the difference in the position in Wellington and Christchurch?" The Minister: "The losses were greater in Wellington than they were in Christchurch, principally on account of a firewood depot that was opened here." Referring to the co-operative system, the Minister said that the system was initiated by the late Mr. Massey m 1920, and it had had his approval and assistance eve::- since. Last' year co-operative parties, working on the West Coast, had obtained 45,000 tons of coal. Some time ago he had offered, with the sanction of Cabinet, to turn the whole of the State mines into a co-operative concorn, the workmen being offered the opportunity of sitting on a Board of Control, but the offer had been turned down. He believed ;t would be a very interesting and profitable experiment. The co-operative parties were able' to work much more efficiently and comfortably, and men made more money. T 61 Minister (the Right Hon. X G. Coates): "Why didn't they cany

The Minister: "Tho Coal Miners' ?n nr T et£ eTf:Z Tho Minister to* r^.,% y^ * there wore several masons for the increase in the price of coal, and one-of them was that the minors would-only- work ten days" a fortnight instead of eleven. In r l a rd toi,™™l artm- ent had decid=d no to ie-opon the mine.