ROUND THE MINING CAMPS.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1925, Page 6

ROUND THE MINING CAMPS.

SfOt.’KTON. —Soon after the arrival ot the new Mine .Manager. Mr. Armstrong the workers of Stockton knew that, sooner or later, a clash of interests was inevitable, and before we k'iiew where we were, the mine was idle. Mr. Armstrong’s campaign of economy in our opinion to violate several I'rot isions of th,* working agr< i ement i the chief one being the minimum wage clause, ’flic reduetion of wages of the sub-stat ion hands was also a very contentious mutter. Local efforts Io eflect a settlement proved unavailing, each side being adamant with the result that; production iTased. At a special general meeting, it was decid(,<l I" Place the facts before the West < oast Miners’ Council the upshot of I his being that a couferonce between ,!11, '■"••'I ""ners a„d miners’ representatives was arranged. Council repres entat.ves also addressed the Union. •'""I t'fter two days’ deliberations, the following terms of settlement, weragreed to:— (1) that, in the minimum wage di--I'ute, a wage of 25 s per day for two <'a.vs (Thursday ami Saturday) be paid J Luke, without prejudice) by the . 'Vestport Stockton Coal Co. ( 2 ) That the Union allow all coal ™ the road at the end of the fortJ "giifly period to go into the following "eek or fortnight. (Bv way of explaiiatfon this simply means that each ''eek or fortnightly period stand- on its own, irrespective of whether any aimers’ or company CO al i s on fl „, ~o ad not.) (3) That, men starting- on the las;, ( ‘iy of a week or pay, wor k da m‘ n S ’. mUtUaUy agrCed “P™ «'« ei, and manager, or underviewer. ( ) That wages of sub-station hands lemant as at present until another

Disputes Committee is set up, and finally decides this matter. (5) That the company agree to pay dog-watch rates to mny men called out between tile hours of IP pan. and fi 'l’he terms of settlement were signed by Messrs Brown, McCormick and (.'rowe for the owners, and Messrs Bal-d-erstone, Whittle and Russell tor th? miners. A special meeting of the Unio-n accepted the terms of settlement, and work was resumed forthwith. M 1 LLERTON.—Friction between the Union and the Company occurred over the starting of new hands. The positi(Ai is that, since the famous dismissal notices were issued, no fresh ha mis have been engaged. However, some have left. Consequently, there :s a shortage of truckers, and miners are having to leave their face to truck whilst would-be truckers are offering their services to the boss daily. The travelling time settlement for tho Millerton Mine made a few weeks ago by the Disputes Committee, has given general satisfaction, and no : complaints on this score are now I heard. Tho introduction of the new electric lamps has not yet compensated the miners for the 4Ad lost tonnage. We are producing very little, if any, more coal than with the oil safety. There are those of us who maintain that the bright glare of tho electric lamp will also ultimately affect the eyes. I Work hi Millerton has been proceeding more regularly of late. Evidently the Company has go- over the I shim]), and has made a few extra con-tra.-ts. I I BLACKBALL. —A nijeting -if tnc I Engine Drivers’ and Firemen’s Union W.-IS addressed by Mr W. Balderstone c'.i the urgent necessity for a hundred per cent, organisation in the mining industry, not only in Blackball, but throughout New Zealand. The speaker strongly advised the engineers to disband their sectional organisation, and to link up with the Minors’ Cour, cil. In answer to several questions, lie stated that the engineers’ interI ests would be looked after just as keenly as those of the underground workers, and that the question of reI presentation presented no difficulties, I as it would be the duty of those em ployed in the industry to see that the engineering department was ade. quately represented >n the Council. ROA. —Roa Union endorsed the business transacted by the Miners’ Council at their last meeting, after hearing the report <f its delegate, Mr R. W-earn. The Roa Union’s dispute re wet clothes had been referred to the Disputes’ Committee, a meeting of whicn will be held shortly. A breach of the overtime regulai lions of the Union by one of its mem ( bers ’ii-early caused a st;:p]»age last week. However, the matter was adjusted. and tilings went on as usual. Overtime these times, when ineni]>loy_ ment ami over-production are rife, is a glaring breach of working-class principles. It is only on \-ery special Of-casH.his that overtime is warranted, and this Union hopes to see the Miners’ Organisation stamp it <>ut , ts f ;)r as possible. DENNISTON.—The Westport Coal Company, by tfieir action in giving notice t" two old toilers who have been in their employ for the last decade, have completely -verified the constant assertion of working class representatives that as <(',*n .is the toiler begins to sh *w sign of age, or physical decadence, he is, ii respective of past s-rvices or the amount of profits h(‘ ha- helniul 1 i produce, callously tossed on to the scrap heap. Evidently it is an unpardcwiable crime to get old. W e suppose some of our capitalist masters will socm be advocating the use of a lethal chamber as a quick and cheap means of getting rid of an aged, unwanted toiler. Probable also ’I the Workers did not drink or eat, and saved all the imne-. they ci/rcd, provision could be made for old age. Wc remember the rich will do anything for the poor bn! get off their b.oks. I hat is our .<:!<. concern. To 1 le rich off dm- backs. D * s action that counts. and when the workers decide to work in tellig-ently and with knowledge, they will not be fobbed off with speeches. STATE MINES.—The state Miners' Union is having an unfortunate run with its Union Presidents. We no sooner get one (dected, tha»n some thing turns up, and the Presidential chair is vacant. Our latest occupant, Mr Billy Ayres, had to get out owing to the effect on his eyes of the lamps, and he took the first available job of. fering. “BiH v W;IS not jyng Pnough in the chair to be properly tested, but he was well-known as a staunch militant member of the working class. The State Miners’ Union endorsed the doings of the Miners’ Council at which our delegate, Mr. J. Connell, had the question of safety on jigs discussed. The Council’s recommendation in the matter i s to be given effect to BRUNNER.— Conditions in this district arc practically normal. We have one or two matters in dispute, but hese have been referred to the Dis. trict Disputes Committee Tins Union endorsed the business transacted by the last meeting of tho •i ineis Council, our delegate giving a very favourable report.