STATE MINERS

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1944, Page 3

STATE MINERS

MILITARY EXEMPTION 267 Appeals Dismissed BECAUSE OF “GO-SLOW” POLICY. The appeals for 267 miners and truckers employed at the Liverpoo and Strongman State Mines, who had been given blanket, exemption from military service in the course of the past four years, were dismissed by the Greymouth Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. Following the allegation that a goslow 1 ” policy was in operation at these two Runanga mines, and production of coal was being reduced to the extent of more than one-third, the appeals which previously had , been adjourned sine'die, were", at the request of the Mines Department, brought up for review at a special two-day sitting at Greymouth on February 21 and 23, when they were adjourned until yesterday, to allow the men, under the liability of the dismissal of their appeals, to resume normal production. No appreciable improvement, according to evidence, had been shown since. The courtroom was crowded, and many of the miners appeared to be surprised when the Board’s decision dismissing the appeals, was announced, at 2 p.m., after the luncheon adjournment. Mr F. A. Kitchingham, who appeared fol the Crown, brought evidence to show that production had not improved. While the State Miners’ U*iion K represented by Mr W. D. Taylor, continued to deny a “go-slow”, no address was made to the Court. The names of the men concerned have previously been published. Mr W. Meldrum presided, and associated with him were Messrs A. Panther and P. J. McLean, also C. F. Shapcott (secx'etary). Mr Kitchingham said that the men had failed to take advantage of the opportunity to return to normal outnut and'he produced figures of the daily returns and individual men s output. These showed that for the fortnight proceeding the adoption of the “go-slow” policy Liverpool output averaged 531 tons 16 cwt. a day and for the period ended March 13 it fell to 3251 tons. The average during the go-slow period was 320 tons a day, .and from then until March 13, 330 tons, a negligble increase. The Strongman mine average was 458 tons 12 cwt. before the “go-slow” and thereafter 292 tons. On February 23 the output had been 296 tons 7 cwt., and since the Board’s decision it had fallen still more to 286.1 tons. As regards the daily output of the men, two men at Liverpool whose pre-“go-slow” output was 13 tons 11 cwt., had reduced their production to 4 tons 3 cwt. Two of them had reduced their yield from 10 tons 17 cwt. to 4 tons 15 cwt. Generally the same applied to the other mine. However, four men at each mine had increased their output, but evidence would show that they were in a position to obtain more. In spite of the fluctuation in output, the .men were averagin ff 26s a day in earnings. In the meantime it had not been possible to replace the men who had volunteered, at the first hearing, for acfive service, and they Would nave to be included in the Board’s general decision. . . William Henry Coumbe, chief clerk, State Coal Mines Office, Dunollie. produced returns of the output of the mines generally and of individual men. The actual earnings varied slightly, but the miners, on the whole, averaged 26s a day. MINE MANAGERS' EVIDENCE Albert Smith, manager of .the Liverpool colliery, said that since February 3 the conduct of the men had been practically the same. In some cases men were coming out or the mine even earlier. Absenteeism was much the same. A good pair of miners, Henderson and son, naa decreased their output from 13 tons 11 cwt. to 4 tons 3 cwt. On one Friday they had no coal at all in the weigh sheets though they had worked all day. One man had asked him to alter his times so he would not have to pay a shift back to the Union. Another pair had increased their daily output, but had earned no more than 265, and were out of the mine, each day, by 1 30 p.m. These were N. Leitch and V Swallow. R. Hodgson and J. Mintoff had left before 3 pm. and also should be producing more. To Mr Taylor: H. Kear had about a month ago requested him to alter the return of his shifts. “That is not correct,” cried Mr Kear, from the body of the court. “It is correct, Mr Kear,” replied witness. Witness went on to say that while in the mine, Kear had asked that his ticket be altered from

8 to 9 shifts. He had stated that the money was correct, but the shifts were wrong. He could not say if the incident occurred before or after the first hearing of the appeals. It? had no't been necessary before, but it was now necessary to establish a case. James Adamson, manager’ of the Strongman mine, said that generally the conduct of the miners had not changed much, and they were still coming out earlier than usual. Last Friday all the men were out of one section by 1.15 p.m.’ and the rest of the men started to come out at 2.10 p.m. and the haulage rope stopped at 2.30, an hour early. The men every day left the mine at 3 p.m.—half an hour early, but it was the usual thing. There were isolated cases of men coming out before 3 p.m. I. Cairney and W. Dalzell had increased their output because their place had improved, but they were not getting a fair return. This concluded the evidence for the Crown.

Mr Taylor called Herbert Oswald Hear, a miner, at Liverpool mine, who said he was .surprised at Mr A. Smith telling the Court downright nonsense. He was at. present • producing as much coal as he had in the past, six months. He was also a sick man. At the beginning of the cavil., he _ was asked to leave the coal to repair a fallen jig. He did this, and the next week repaired another fall. In the finish there was an argument as to his payment for shiftwork. Finally, he told them to keep the money, though he had lost a shift. He then asked them to timber the level, when told that some of the timber was rotten. He was producing all he could considering his state of health, being Grade 111 for the Army, but a fit man could produce more. His only argument with Mr Smith was over the shiftwork. He knew there was a big reduction in the coal produced, but now nearly all miners were on’ solid work and this, in his opinion, was likely to continue for a number of years. He knew nothing about operations at the Strongman mine, but he knew that the miners had refused to go slow. He had not handed his pay dockets to anyone. Neither counsel wished to address the Board. Mr G. E. English (President of the State Miners’ Union) offered to make a statement from the table, he declined to do so from the witness box. BOARD’S DECISION The chairman, announcing the Board’s conclusion, said: “In keeping with its decision of February 23, the Board adjourned the hearing until to-day, with a view to giving reservists on opportunity to alter the 'go-slow’ policy, which the ' Board found had’ been in force since January 31, and intimated that, if such an alteration did take place, sine die adjuornments would again be granted'. If not, the Board would have to dismiss the appeals. The evidence given to-day, shows that there was practically no alteration at all in the policy of the Union, and the ‘go-slow’ had continued. Attendances were not in accord with requirements, and full time had not been worked. The Board, therefore, has no option but to dismiss the appeals. Accordingly, each appeal will be dismissed, including those for the 24 men who had expressed their willingness to serve, and had asked that their appeals be withdrawn.” Attitude Reaffirmed UNION PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT Following the announcement of the Board’s decision, the President of the State Miners’ Union, Mr G. E. ' English, made a statement io the ; Press. "It has been the policy of the State Miners’ Union, over a number of years,” he said, “to discuss all problems and difficulties with the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) or the Under-Secretary of Mines, Mr . Benney, or both; and we have found > that system satisfactory to all parL ties. It was only when, this dispute i had arisen that compulsion was f brought to bear to force us to put L our troubles through what is gener- • ally termed, constitutional channels. [ We had found our previous method ; quite satisfactory to all parties, and > are fully of the opinion that, if Mr i Webb would fall into line with the 1 usual practice adopted, then quite a - broad avenue would be opened for > the settlement of the present dis- : pute. Mr Webb expressed himself I to me as being personally willing to : meet, the Union and to discuss our 1 problems with us, but stated that the r Federation of Labour was abrogat- [ ing to itself the right of—what they term—disciplining the State Miners’ I Union. This is resented by members of the Union, who appear to have ; lost faith, for some time, in the so- ■ called ‘constitutional’ channels. We are satisfied that, if Mr Webb would • come and meet us and discuss our troubles with us, as in the past, a [ settlement, would be achieved. Whatr ever power has been brought to bear ti to prevent Mr Webb meeting us is I I to the detriment of any chance of a

solution The men are as firm in their attitude to-day, as they have been all along, and there is no reason to think that, their courage will fnH or their faith in the justificaHnr> of their demands. When Mr U H Benney (Under-Secretary ot Mines) saw us, he appeared to have no further power than to chide us, and tell us to put our case through constitutional channels, at the same tim» telling us that we had no hope of obtaining our demands in that wav The attitude of the Minister of ’Manpower (Mr A. McLagan) was similar. Statements being broadcast about the high wages of State miners are definitely deceiving, the deductions b emg very _ bl kh. POSTING OF iv.EN The Army Department O4hce at crovmniith had not, up till iasi nffht ?“ceive< advice as to the postof the men here. The remaining miner! will have to-morrow evening. The peicentage of men passing as Giaae 1. is stin relatively hi-h. The are "ood The men, it is stated, aie giving every co-operation in their exarnmaUon, and are keen to know their medical grading.