REPLY TO COAL OWNERS

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1945, Page 6

REPLY TO COAL OWNERS

BY GREY MINERS’ COMMITTEE. SECRETARY. Mr W. Purdy, Secretary of the Grev Miners’ Central Committee has made the following statement upon propoganda against the Labour Government, and the Minister of Mmes in particular. The report commences bv stating: ‘Mine workers .are still seeking to obtain more and more concessions, and are prepared to use the strike weapon or any other means to gain them.’ Let me say that the miners have not threatened strike action to obtain increased wages; but if the law of ‘supply and demand’ had been in unrestricted operation the miners could have been in a much better position than they are to-day. The report states that ‘prior to the war, no very serious difficulties had been found in negotiating agreements with mineworkers.’ That is true; but during the depression years when the coal-own-ers had the ball at their feet, they flatly refused to meet the miners at an agreement conference. They flung their terms like a bone to a dog; in a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. It was only when the then GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) came to the rescue of the miners (insofar as a conference was concerned) and compelled the owners to meet the miners in conference in Parliament Buildings that a conference was made possible. What a convenient memory these owners possess. True, we did not get much from the owners, out we did have the satisfaction of meeting them in conference. They now have the pleasure (?) of meeting the miners in conference, and if the miners do not respond to their blandishments, they have no cause for complaint. I do not say this in a spirit of retaliation, but just as a reminder in case they have forgotten. “The report states, further, that The Government had entirely failed to take advantage of the. knowledge and experience of the mine-owners. Knowledge and experience ? I have met these gentlemen on a number of occasions, and am of the opinion that if they all (with the exception of their secretary), walked off the end of the Wellington wharf the sum total of mining knowledge in the country would not be appreciably diminished. With their much vaunted knowledge they have done more damage to the coal resources of New Zealand than a highly-trained demolition unit could have done in the same time. As stated in the report, the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) has on numerous occasions made complimentary reference to the miners, and the miners return the compliment, and wish him a speedy return to health and to the many duties attached to the mining industry. We regard him as the only Minister of Mines who ever had any knowledge of the industry,—of the men employed in it. As we put him where he is, we may be excused for basking in his reflected glory. Uncrowned Kings ? I should say so ! Wages in the mining industry have been increased, but so have the wages of all other industries, to say nothing of the cost of living. Incidentally, even employers of labour have been known to pay excess profit. tax. Working on back Saturdays and holidays would have a tendency to increase working hours, not shorten them as suggested. Then the money earned is described as ‘wage increases.’ If we refuse to work on holidays and back Saturdays, we are accused of sabotaging the war effort and depriving the people in the cities of gas and coal. What can a miner do to do right ? What we want is shorter hours, and better conditions. Certainly we want nationalisation. A Royal Commission set up by a New Zealand Conservative Government recommended it, so there shouldn’t be any argument. Yes, the State purchased a number of mines, but did so at the request of the owners, and upon the advice of officials of the Coal Owners’ Association. In any case, if the State had not acquired these mines, they would have been closed down, and their output lost; and the workers would have had to sacrifice their homes. In the purchase of mines, the owners of the mines who disposed of their property, had little if any cause for complaint, a fact which has been publicly admitted. In spite of the fact that numerous people without mining experience have been drafted into the mining industry by the Manpower authorities, and in spite of the fact that there are a number of “refugees’ without mining experience who have found a haven of safety (comparative) and rest in the mines, the output has consistently increased during the -war years, and is at present at the peak of war-time production. Coal production is also retarded by lack of port and railway facilities. In view of the fact that there has been no war-time importation of coal, and that greater industrial • and domestic demands are being made as a result of war-time requirements, it must be conceded that the miner is doing as much as, if not more (than anyone in the war effort, and the labourer is worthy of his hire. I trust the coal owners do not fjgree with the editor of the ‘Fnaneial Times’ and suggest sending women underground to increase production. Let us hope not.”