DOBSON-WALLSEND MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 December 1934, Page 4

DOBSON-WALLSEND MINERS

PROSPECTS OF RELIEF WORK. A meeting of members of the Grey Valley Workers’ Union at Wallsend, was held this morning, to discuss the prospects for intermittent work tor miners during the holiday period at the mines, which extends to January 7. Mr AV. Purdy, President of the Union, presided, and there was a. satisfactory attendance of members. Discussing the position with a. “Star” reporter, this afternoon, Mr Purdy stated that Messrs J. O’Brien and P. C. Webb M.’sP. had been in communication with the Unemployment Board with a view to securing intermittent work for the Grey Valley miners. As a result, the Minister of Employment had instructed the Unemployment Board to send two officials, Messrs Beauford and Jackson to meet the Miners’ Executive at Wallsend. A conference had taken place on Christmas Day, and yesterday, between the parties. It was pointed oui by the Union Executive that the next pay for tbe miners would not be before January 25. Mr Purdy added that the Dobson mine worked only 126 shifts from December 21 last year, to December 21 of this year. In addition there were 10 days for stopings. During the past three months, Dobson had worked only 33 shifts out of a possible 65. The Wallsend mine had worked on the day shift last year, on 187 days, and on the back shift, 179 days. During the. past three months Wallsend mine had operated on 50 day shifts, and 47 back shifts. Eighty-eight of the shifts not worked by Wallsend had been due to lack of orders, and at this number, 50 lost shifts were occasioned during the past three months. Wallsend mine, unlike Dobson, had worked double shifts

throughout the year. The earnings of the Wallsend men had been particularly low on the average, owing to the mine working through a bad patch of coal. i “Messrs Beauford and Jackson had agreed that relief work should be provided for the mines’ employees,” said Mr Purdy. “They arte now getting in touch with the Public Works Department and it is hoped that intermittent work will be provided for the men to make a start next Wednesday. No provision has been nTade tor the single men. At the meeting this morning, it was decided, that in view of the distress existing among the single men, that application on their behalf, be made to the Charitable Aid Board, for assistance in the way of relief. With the' slack time worked at the mines the single men have been unable to set by a reserve fund. The truth is that this country has no use for its single men, except in times of war. You can state that I commented upon that fact,” added Mr Purdy. Continuing, he said that the Union had been pressing the Public Works Department, to open the road leading from Brunner to Blackball, which had remained uncompleted for a number l of rears. After the Dobson explosion, in 1926, a number of men had been placed in work on that road, and later when something happened at Blackball mine, the Blackball men were given employment on the road. There remains about a niile of road to be constructed, and about three and a-half miles yet to be completed. The Public Works Department, and the Grey County Council, said Mr Purdy, were favourable to the road being completed, for it would provide an alternative route to Blackball, and would give access to gold claims along that route. “The work would serve a useful purpose, and be much better than the cutting of blackberries along existing highways,” said Mr Purdy. It was also desired that the 54 men recently put off work at the Wallsend mine, be given employment. It had been suggested by the Labour Department that such men be found work at Humphries Gully, by the Public Works Department, on contract at 10/6 per day, but the Union held the view that it would be better to keep the men near home, so that they, would not have the expense of keeping two homes. An early notification from the Public Works Department that the miners and others at Dobson and Wallsend will be able to start intermittent work on Wednesday next is expected.