MINERS GO HOME

Evening Star, Issue 26041, 4 March 1947, Page 5

MINERS GO HOME

UNNECESSARY STOPPAGE 650 TONS REPRESENT LOSS (P.A.) ‘ AUCKLAND, March 3. The production of 650 tons of coal was lost when men at the MacDonald mine at Huntly went home tor the day after a stop-work meeting this morning. The men claimed that several compensation payments had been held up. The ‘mine was idle all day. The men arrived at the mine as usual, but shortly after 8 o’clock the mine manager was advised by a mine official that there would not be any work because some compensation payments had been held up,” it was stated on behalf of Glen Afton Collieries Ltd., owners of the mine. * The Miners’ Union had not previously discussed this matter with the management, nor had any complaints been received from any individual workers about compensation payments. After the men had decided to return home, however, the management was informed that four cases of payment of compensation were overdue. “ There was no delay on the company's part, and as the matter could have been settled in less than five minutes,” the company stated, “ there was no need for the meeting or for the loss of a day’s work. Three of the cases went through the usual channel in the usual time, and payment of compensation was not disputed in any way by . this company or by the insurance company. In one case the company had not even_ received a medical certificate to indicate that the person concerned was suffering an injury.” Although the MacDonald mine is owned by Glen Afton Collieries Ltd., it is under State control. After a stop-work meeting at the

Renown mine this morning, only a few miners went in to work to-day. The meeting lasted until 10 a.m., after which the majority of the men went home.