STOCKTON NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 13 July 1922, Page 7

STOCKTON NOTES.

The miners held their quarterly cavil on Thursday, July sth, and some of the lucky Dubbs in the past have land- ! ed the double shift and wet places, , Cheer oh, Comrade! Only twelve weeks this time! J Notices have been issued to several miners, owing to refusal to work the j full time on the pay week cud. A < custom of finishing two hours early ' on night shift has existed for sometime. ( Wc are at a loss to know the reason '* of this drastic action on the part ofithe local Company, when trade is slack, h and furthermore, seeing that tnc raaj- - ority of the men are piece workers, ’ the Company are not caused any loss. Sonic months ago, one of the' Coal j Kings was commenting on the pern;- • cious tactics of the Labour leaders. We would like to know whether the ’ Coal Kings’ tactics arc not here worthy of the designation pernicious when . we find the Company is not agreeable I to allow men home two hours early ‘ from the night shift on pay week ends, though, in so doing, the men arc prepared to lose their earnings in those two hours. The greed of the mighty quid. The Coal Kings are quite prepared to keep on producing the product their ancestors brought to Ja their days—periodical crises in industry. Yet we still have thtf onus thrown on the labour leaders and union officials by the liar rattlers of the capitalist press. On Thursday, July 6th, Stockton was honoured with a visit tfom our ncwTy appointed Coitnty Chairman (Mr 1). Archer) and the engineer (Mr Sell adick). These gentlemen were met by a deputation from the Vigilance Committee, who again endeavoured to urge the urgent necessity of new roads and repairs to roads which are not deserving of the name of such. Various other matters were brought under the • notice of the County Chairman who agreed with the deputation and promised attention as soon as possible. The Stockton Vigilance Committee met on Saturday, July Bth, and (opened with a motion of sympathy and regret of our departed comrade, William Charles Morrett, which was carried in silence. The report of the deputation . to the County officials was next dealt . with. No further headway has been |

made in respect to the cobble stones from the sea shore! The. Vigilance Committee are strongly opposed to this meta], and claim that suitable metal can be produced on the job. Dame Rumour has told some mighty stories of the Vigilance Deputation to Westport County-Chambers some , weeks ago, and two grievances have created a good deal of ill-feeling and bluster. One point would not be entertained by other than those possessed of the psychology of a school boy. The other reveals a perturbed party as possessed of the characteristics of. the “Ego,” “super authority,” etc. The mere fact of eulogising the pioneer roadman of this district as an authority on road repairs seems to our minds, the sore point. However the deputation did not say Mr Gospodcnitch gave his opinion as to what metal was suitable for repairs. The fact of the deputation having seen the pioneer roadman using metal for road repairs with good results for years, long before the introduction of beach metal, is sufficient evidence to quote him as an authority without personal opinion. However, the Vigilance Committee fail to see the necessity of extra expenditure for metal when suitable metal is near at hand, ind, in concluding these remarks, let one say it would be better for all con?erned that the members of deputations be challenged on the spot, and not wait until misinterpretations mature and create blustering and bombastic renarks at individuals not guilty. We nay wish success to seashore cobbles "or Stockton roads, but doubts ensue! Some time ago the Vigilance Committee was notified a grant of £lBO for the Stockton streets was published n the “Argus.” We are told no such ▼rant exists, but the matter is being seen to.