WAR ON THE STATE

Evening Star, Issue 24296, 10 September 1942, Page 4

WAR ON THE STATE

WHAT THE MIMS’ STRIKE MEANS ALL POWERS WILL BE USED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. “The attitude of the Huntly miners in stopping work at this critical stage is indefensible,” said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, to-day. They had been led by a few irresponsible industrial wreckers who had smashed their own agreement and ignored the appeal of their own Miners’ Federation to resume production, as well as that of the Federation of Labour. They had treated with contumely the Government’s request to resume work and keep up production, and in so doing had declared war on the State. Their challenge would be accepted, said Mr Webb, and all the powers of the State would be used to maintain production. The Minister added that even at this late hour he would appeal to the common sense and loyalty of the great bulk of the Waikato miners, and ho hoped he would not appeal in vain. Discussing the events leading up to the stoppage of work by the Pnkemiro miners, Mr Webb said that during the shortage of truckers five pairs of miners at Pnkemiro were permitted hv the union to truck their own coal. For doing that work they received money which would have been paid to the usual truckers in addition to their earnings from the coal face. When the truckers returned from the Army, the union gave instructions that trucking by miners had to cease. “ Naturally, I was in total agreement with that instruction,” Mr Webb added. “It was the proper thing to do, as the minors were wanted at the face producing coal. The management bel<eved that the miners wanted to contii/ue trucking as well,, as they were earning good money. Instead of increasing, the (production of coal was reduced very considerably, and the company claimed that the men were going slow. When the men went for their wages they received only the money they had earned, and they claimed that their wages should be made up to the minimum.” DRASTIC RAILWAY CUT INVOLVED NORTH ISLAND SERVICES CURTAILED A statement that the cessation of the production of coal in the Waikato area, which supplied a substantial proportion of the coal required by the Railways Department in the North Island, made it imperative in the national interests severely to curtail all train services in the North island from Monday was made to-night by the Minister of Railways, Mr Semple. This redactionj the Minister _ said, must be made in order to maintain essential services. Further particulars regarding the reductions would be announced later. Mr Semple said the strike among the miners in Huntly would seriously affect the railway service, and some very drastic restrictions would have to bo imposed as supplies of New Zealand coal wore very limited. The department held resex-ves of Newcastle coal, and these would have to be utilised to keep a restricted service going. Amazement at the conduct of the men concerned was expressed by Mr Semple. He said that about a month ago, in company with Mr Webb,, lie visited Huntly. They addressed the mine owners’ representatives and representatives of the miners’ organisation, and explained to thexn the importance of an increased output of coal to maintain the railways system, particulai’ly in view of the shortage of rubber and the'curtailment of road transport. The New Zealand railways system to-day was carrying a greater load in goods and passengers than ever before in its history, and without the maximum amount of coal the railway service would be in jeopardy and on the verge of collapse. This, with the rubber shortage, would amount to a national calamity. STRIKE CHARGES LAID The refusal of Waikato miners to continue work has led to the service of summonses on the men charging them with breaches of the Emergency Kegulatioxis (says the 1 Press ’). The Government decided on Tuesday to authorise the issue of the summonses, and the men are called to appear in the Magistrate’s Court at Huntly on September 17, the first available day for a sitting by a magistrate. Although action lias been taken by the Government, further steps have been taken by the United Mine-Work-ers' Federation to settle the dispute, and the men will probably be met today by officials of the federation and a representative of the Government.