MINERS' “GO SLOW" TACTICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 355, 15 February 1917, Page 7

MINERS' “GO SLOW" TACTICS.

OUTPUT REDUCED BY ONETHIRD. .ACTING UNDER INSTRUCTIONS. Hamilton, Feb 11. ! At the Military Service Appeal Board, when a miner named William Burnie, who is engaged on the staff of the Waipa collieries, was asked by Captain Rogers, military representatixe. whether the average output per man was as great now as it. was twelve months ago. he replied ‘‘No.’’ Further evidence was given that the present output was 17 trucks per day, whereas six months ago it was between 20 and 2-2. Tnc witness would give no reason why there should be such a decrease, as the distance to the face should make no difference. He would not say that tiie decrease was deliberate on the part of iho men, but said it seemed to be the case. A very large decrease had been noticeable since last, i Friday week. The witness could I not k:’.v whether there had been a meet ing of the union at which a resolution was adopted to restrict the output, but during the past fortnight it had fallen about one-third. It was reported that the men had been instructed not to cam more than 11-/3 .per. day. the minimum fixed under the award. .The. men were getting a war bonus and were apparently putting that on their wages and cutting down the supxnv feoal. In reply to Mr. Rosser, a member of the board, the witness stated liiat if tiie men earned more wag'A they would get more war bonus. i At the conclusion of the witness’ , evidence, the mine manager, Air. I Thompson, said he wished the board to undo inland that he was in no way responsible for the restriction. j David .Burnie, another appellant, i examined on the point, said he he-1 iicved the miners throughout the, Dominion had adopted a ’ go-slow ’ i policy, but he could not say for what reason. He believed the hewers and truckers were both parties to this policy, and if he personally did secure a good place in the mine nei would be unable to make a good i cheque because the coal would not be taken away by the truckers. I Thomas Thompson, mine manager,' stated the output of his mine had been reduced fully one-third during the past fortnight. The actual > figures were not yet available, as there had been no pay day since the i ‘ go-slow" policy had been adopted, i but he knew from the weight sheets, the output was not normal. He un-1 derstood the same system was being adopted at the Taupiri and West Coast mines. Evidently there was concerted action throughout the Dominion. On tne Thursday before this business star ed the piesiient of the Coalminers Federation visited the mine and a meeting was held. The output fen next dav. Asked if he could advance any reason for tins policy, witness stated that it was apparently an attemnt to foice t i owm s to giv< I io m n a < onference. The owners some seven months ago met the miners, who pleaded the nigh cost oi living a-> on foi ime ccnsidci itnn I ;ie owners r* co s ni td the jo tn i and granted the men a bonus ot tc:

per cent on wages earned under the award, to operate for the duration ot the war arm tin** montns ittr He thougnt the matter was settled, but now annarentiv the men were wanting some turther consideration, and were earning less in order io sirenallien their demands. In reply to Mr. Rosser. Thompson stated that the award would not exHire until January next. Continuing, witness stated l tie men s average wage was neanv U - a dav. with 10 per cent, war bonus additional. Tnough lie hud no authority on the statement, he belt \<*d the men had received orders t it thi y v i e pot to c irn r orc tl in 11/6 per dav. Asked as to how the men worked. Mr. Thompson stated that the mine worked full time, namely 11 days a fortnignt ird the \eia b e fo tl t number of miners engaged would be over ten davs per man.

Tl e a sormtion remesentat it ip preached another mine manager—who was not m court at the time the above evidence was given—who said he could, in so far as his own observation went, bear Mr. Thompson’s statement out, and further added that the men had received explicit instructions that they were not to earn more than 12/- per day.