Workers To Have Share In State Mine Management

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1948, Page 2

Workers To Have Share In State Mine Management

The setting up of a joint workers’ management committee for the Blackball and Roa State mines was proposed by the Minister of Min.es, Mr A. McLagan, at a function at Blackball on Saturday night, and as a preliminary he invited the Blackball District and Roa Miners’ Unions to confer with him in regard to the establishment of the committee. “We hope fo work the mines much more' efficiently than the private owners ever could,” said the Minister, after referring to the recent legislation nationalising all coal measures. “We intend to work them in co-operation with the mine workers themselves, because otherwise* they cannot be used to the best advantage. “On behalf of the Government, therefore, I want to secure the cooperation of all the State miners, and I want to offer the Blackball and Roa unions a chance to take their share, in the management by setting up a joint workers’ management committee, which can make a valuable contribution to the industry,” added the Minister. “I hope that you give your best and enable us to prove to the whole country that State ownership of the mines is good and in the interests of New Zealand.” Mr McLagan claimed that the State mines had been the means of keeping the price of coal down and of providing the workers with better pav and conditions. After those established by the Seddon Government more than 40 years ago, there were no more State mines until Mr W?bb had made an excellent purchase of the Blackball mine for £30,000 in 1940, when the private owners announced their intention of closing the mine. As a result, Blackball had never looked back. Recently, added the Minister, he had been criticised for paying £823,000 for the largest coal field in the North Island, but greater production in the Waikato area should be expected from the State purchase of the' Taupiri mines.