THE REEFTON LOCKOUT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1912, Page 8

THE REEFTON LOCKOUT

[to the editor.] Sir,—ln reply to "Shareholder's” letter thgt appears in your paper of the 17th, 1 would like to point out to the public: the reasons why we abolished contracting. He says that Mr Fagan and a certain section of his Union stopped contracting. This section was a three to one majority when it went to the ballot. The reason why a ballot was taken was that we were working under a set of specifications that we considered unfair. The Union interviewed Mr Frans on his arrival here, and he agreed to have five clauses altered. We went on working tinder these new specifications for about three months, and everything was working smoothly when Mr Evans went hack on his word, and said he would make us take, contracts under the old specifications, which we considered unfair. The result was that a ballot was taken tyhicji abolished pout)act : ing altogether. f might point out t<, “Shareholder” that the only reason why we did development work on contract was because by doing it on wages the miner if- very much underpaid. “Shareholder” also says that Mr Fagan forgot to tell your reporter that the general manager guaranteed a minimum wage of 10s per day. 1 can say more than that. Mr Ziman offered us a minimum wage of 10s i. day for seven yeaf«. r jT|iat seems a very nice offer, hu,t our cemetery js quite full enough at the present time through miners dying of miners’ complaint, mostly through following up the occupation of contracting. I want to tell “Shareholder” that the executive of the Union is going to consider the health and safety of its ippTTp hers before dividends. “Shareholder” also wants to know a little about the popper drill and their automatic sprays. First of ajj, the drill is not a popper drill. It is called the W/aiigh machine, and is much larger than a popper drill, ai»4 t'h® matic sprays he talks about have never been seen by miners here. Mr Evans might have had one in the foundry when he was trying to mislead the public. But I might id! ‘'shareholder" that the only automatic spray we will use here will be two men one machine. “Shareholder" also averages the shares up very nicely, It is not the average shareholder or the smaller ones that are trying to crush tfie miner under his feet. It is Fat and Co.— the men who hold thousands. In dealing

with-the low-grade ore a good plan wouldl be to do away witli high salaried officials ■ and put mote miners on. 1 slrtmkl also , like to know who “Shareholder” is allud- j mg to by the floating labour which he terms j of a poor description Australians, very likely. 1 must apologise for trespassing I so much on your valuable space; but with yoilr permission T will also return to the subject.—l am, &c., . ' MINER. Waiuta, June 19th 1912.