RUNANGA MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1944, Page 4

RUNANGA MINERS

ABSENTEES RETURN.

The 56 men who returned home after the stop-work meeting at the Liverpool State mine yesterday morning returned to work this morning. A further meeting was held at the bathhouse, when the men concerned were asked to sign an agreement that in future they would abide by the majority decision of the Union and would honour the arrangement made with the Minister of Mmes by the Executive of the Union. All but seven of the men complied, and these seven will in due course receive dismissal notices, making them available either for the Armed Forces or for other essential work. No disciplinary action has yet been taken against any of the men who did not work yesterday. The men started work late at both mines yesterday, on account of the lengthy meetings to hear the Executive’s report on the conference with the Minister, and this, coupled with the facts that there was a considerable number of miners among those who returned home from Liverpool and that more trouble was experienced with the rope at Strongman, had a serious effect on the production, toi the day. Neither mine produced 300 All the mines were working to-day.

MR WEBB’S STATEMENT WELLINGTON, March 23. The Minister of-Mines (Mr Webb) stated this morning that all but seven men at the State mines on the /vest Coast had returned to work. Mr said lie looked forward with confidence to a better feeling m me mines. He had suggested in his talk to the miners that after the session he would inspect each mine and call a conference with all the officials and the union executive to evolve a better spirit of goodwill and friendliness than existed in some quarters at present. Some officials complained of lack of discipline among the men and the Government would insist on discipline being maintained. On the other hand, many of the men complained of pin-pricking tactics by officials. The Government would not stand for pin-pricking either Mr Webb said he had most helpful discussions with the union executive. He had pointed out the extreme importance of coal at the present time and that the Government expected irresponsible stop-work meetings to cease. In future all pitmouth meetings had to be arranged the day before between the union and the management, and he considered this would make stop-work meetings unnecessary except in cases where the safety of the men was involved. Every other issue could easily be dealt with in a constitutional way. He had undertaken tc have the Coal Council, for the settlement of grievances, visit the West Coast and make a thorough investigation of the outstanding grievances. His proposals had been put to the men, and all but about 60 at the Liverpool mine resumed work. He gave a definite instruction to the manager of the Liverpool mine to suspend the 60 men and give them the opportunity to sign a document that they would adhere to the policy of no more stop-work meetings, otherwise they would be dismissed. Only six or seven had failed to sign, and those signing had resumed work.