MILLERTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1932, Page 6

MILLERTON NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The mine started work on Tuesday of last week and worked until Friday. This week is cleaning up week for the cavil, so that the men are assured of two more shifts. The Committee representative of the miners and the unemployed again approached the Chairman of the Hospital Board in regard to the issuing of relief on the Hill last week-end. The only thing that, the Board were prepared to do was to examine the pay ticket for the last pay, of every person sending in an application for relief. This has meant, in practice, that those men who were fortunate enough tc be over the minimum have been refused any aid. in regard to the unemployed the Chairman refused to consider the granting of relief for the off week of those concerned. He sent a win* to Mr Coates stating the finan cial position of the Hospital Board, pointing out how they arc facing the year with £2OOO of a deficit, making it impossible to shoulder the responsibility of paying relief for the oil’ week of the unemployed iu the Buller district. Therefore, if the National Unemployment Board would promise to reimburse the Hospital Board, they would take on the responsibility. The effect of this course was that the unemployed were prevented from obtaining an answer to the application, because no reply was forthcoming, or at any rate the unemployed were not told of any. Another point with which the unemployed are in disagreement was the action of putting three men on extra work without regard for those who had just had their week off Anyhow, it is to be hoped that a fair distribution of extra work available will be aimed at. That is all the unemployed ask for. On Thursday evening last the unemployed workers’ meeting was held to hear the report of the delegates to Grey mouth. Mr R. Adam gave the report which was endorsed in the main. Criticism was directed against the delegates for not coming back with a clear cut policy for resistance to any further attacks on the unemployed by way of the slave camps or the 37s 6d per week for 40 hours’ work. In reply, it was pointed out how the unemployed were not fully organised, making it impracticable at the present time to promise a “down tools” policy to carry it out. Therefore, having the objective before the different branches of fighting against any worsening of conditions, it was realised

that more organisation among the West Coast unemployed to get unity of policy, was necessary. The question of approaching those unemployed on 1 the Hill who, up to the present, have not joined the branch, was raised. The Committee did not meet and formulate a policy of canvassing the homes, but made it their business to approach non-members on the jobs. The question of gathering dues was raised. A policy of sharing their work was decided on, for it involved waiting up at the Post Office on the pay day. A letter was read from the newly-form-ed branch of the Westport unemployed, asking that a delegate attend a meeting to be held the following Friday. The ’Greymouth delegates were instructed to attend. The question of relief for the off week was raised, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Hon. W. Mclntyre. The results of the deputation have been stated above. On Sunday morning a general meeting of the Medical Association was held to consider the advisability of running a candidate, for the Buller Hospital Board. A conference has been held in Granity with the Denniston and Ngakawau Medical Associations, when it was decided to get united support, for the four candidates of the Medical Associations. The President pointed out the necessity for having representation on the Hospital Board. In the past they had not benefited to the extent possible from the Government subsidy. Reference was made to the Grey Valley Medical Associations getting better treatment as a result of representation on the Greymouth Board. It was pointed out. that they had to fight all along the lino for any concession. Finally the meeting decided to put Mr R. Finlayson forward as the candidate from the Millerton Medical Association. The question of number of votes allowed each voter was discussed, also the manner of voting. As previously stated, the ! Granity Conference decided to urge all I members of the respective Associations to use their votes for the four candi-

dates being put forward. Every voter will have five votes, and the Medical Associations urge every member to use four of these votes to support the following candidates: Messrs Finlayson (Millerton), Cox and Tyler (Ngakawau) and Wat hey (Denniston), and with the remaining vote any other candidate can be supported as desired. It was stressed that only one vote cculd be given to each candidate. The question of who would be eligible for a vote was raised. Would a householder be qualified or would it only be as a ratepayer? Was a householder considered a ratepayer, or was it only the owner of the house who would get a vote, as it is really the householder who pays the rates, indirectly, through the owner of the house? Therefore, if it were only on the basis of being a ratepayer that a person is eligible for a vote, and the owner of property constituted the ratepayer, large numbers of ratepayers indirectly who are householders would be disenfranchised. Therefore, assuming that either of the above conditions constituted the law in regard to voting for Hospital Boards, the question still remained as to how far behind could a person be with the payment of rates and still be eligible for a vote. To clear matters up the Secretary was instructed to write the authorities and got the information. On Sunday afternoon the All Blacks met. the Burnett’s Face team, the Celtics, at Soccer. The weather was clear with a bright sun shining and strong wind blowing. The ground was fairly wet, which made ball control difficult. The All Blacks winning the toss took advantage of the strong breeze. It was soon apparent that the ball was difficult to control on wet ground. Burnett’s Face were unable to break through the solid defence of the home team. The All Blacks showed up the better and were dangerous in attack. Their persistency was rewarded when one of the Celtic defenders miskicked and allowed the All Black .centre to go through and score. This put more life into the game. Newman, of Millerton, taking a shot at goal, put the ball well over, and later had a fast shot charged down. By this time the home team held the Celtic on the defensive and only good anticipation on the part of Archibald, the Celtic goalkeeper, kept the score down to I—o at half time. The second half opened up just as fast as the first, with Burnett’s Face doing more attacking, the Millerton keeper, Campbell, making a great save. By now Celtic were pressing and were rewarded by a goal, thus equalising the scores. Hardly had the ball been kicked off before the home team took the lead again. A good movement up the left wing left Newman in possession, with the choice of shooting or passing to J. Blyth more • favourably situated. A quick pass to the centre gave the latter an easy chance, off which he scored. Celtic took up the challenge by pressure on the All Blacks’ goal, which was relieved and the home team got further ahead through a penalty. R- Adams received a pass and putting the ball by the full-back, it caught the defender’s hand. J. Blyth scored from the ensuing shot. Celtic were not discouraged an 1 attacked with vigour, be ing rewarded by a goal. The ball went in just under the crossbar out of the reach of the. goalkeeper. The game now became faster, each side attacking in turn. During one of the attacks by the Celtic an All Black defender infringed and a penalty was given. . Excitement was high for now was an opportunity for Celtic to equalise, but the chance was not taken, the shot going straight at, the goalkeeper, who saved. All Blacks now took command of the game, and put on another goal, making the result pretty safe. When it seemed that all was over for the Celtic, the latter took up the attack again and put on another goal. Taking Hie game all through, it seems that the Celtic forwards could not, take their chances of scoring, whereas the home team took every chance. It, was a very fast game, with the result always in doubt in the, second half. Tho final was 4 to 3 in Milleri ton’s favour. Next week the All Blacks entertain the Denniston Rangers at Millerton. Tho Denniston teams are always good to watch and provide strong opposition. On Monday afternoon a special general meeting was held by the Miners’ ! Union. The President, in outlining the ’ reason, stated that a letter had been received from the management asking for a. postponement of the cavil for a fortnight, the reason given being the need to reorganise the work in the mine. In the meantime a further let1 ter was received from the manage-.

ment agreeing to tho cavil taking place as usual. What caused this change of policy is probably the happenings in the Denniston dispute, where the same question has been the cause of a stoppage, and where the men are to resume work under the old conditions. The President intimated that he would take the opportunity of giving his report as the delegate to the National Conference iu Wellington, and also to consider a request by the unemployed workers’ movement, to co-operate foi a demonstration, to be considered at the meeting. The question was raised that the action of the management would only allow two days for scrutineers to mark off all the places. The latter agreed that they would give it a trial. On the question of the demonstration, the Chairman related the interview with unemployed representatives. The miners’ representative on the Unemployed Committee spoke in favour of co-operating. Reference was made to the last demonstration which was not altogether a success, also to the fact that it would be on the week-end when no pay was being drawn. As the cooperation of Denniston and Stockton was thought essential for a demonstration to Westport, it, was finally agreed that Millerton co-operate on condition that Denniston and Stockton do likewise. The question of celebrating May Day locally was not raised, which certainly it should have been, in order to keep alive the spirit of the workers’ day. The delegate to the National Conference gave his report, stating that there was no delegate from the Hikurangi Branch present. Tho National Secretary was invited to address mass meetings of miners in the North Island. A report from tho North Island representative stated that bosses were trying to intimidate men against holding meetings by closing the mine on the day of the stopwork meeting. A statement was given re the financial aid received for the Blackball miners on strike against the tribute. A circular from the Huntley f Unemployed Organisation was rend. Accompanying it was a statement from the National Secretary to the effect that miners could not take on a .struggle against the Government alone. The Branch agreed to the request of i the circular that they were in favour of a general “down tools” policy. After a few questions were asked, the report was adopted. At this juncture a member raised a question re the composition, etc., of the material making up the stoppings in the mine. After discussion the meeting agreed to his request that a letter be sent to the management asking for the information required. A series of demands appeared as remits and the delegate spoke on the reason for them being there. It was a means of propaganda and to keep alive the ultimate objective of the Minors’ Union.

It is quite apparent that the whole energy of miners will bo needed in future for staving oft the bosses’ attacks on their present conditions. In fact, it is only in the degree that the miners and the rest of the workers, are able to beat off the attack on wages and conditions, that the necessary organising capacity will be built up enabling the miners and the working class as a whole to go forward in realising demands similar to those of the remits. The urgent task of the present is to stop retreat and further demoralisation. Only by the rank and file being more energetic and taking on more responsibility would anything bo accomplished. It is a hard road to tread, but it is the only road. Capitalism has no other way out of the crisis except at the expense of the working class. To oppose these attacks is the work of the mass of the workers employed and unemployed.