THE STATE COAL MINE STRIKE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15162, 27 November 1909, Page 10

THE STATE COAL MINE STRIKE.

SPREADING THE STRIKE. RUMOURS DENIED. VIEWS OF THE MEN. [From Our Correspondent.] GREYMOUTH, November 26. Matters remain practically unaltered at the State collieries. The president of tho Miners’ Union stated in an interview that ho had seen the report in tlie newspapers that Blackball and 1 apa roa had boon asked if they were prepared to come out, and also Brunner, and that the "Blackball and Papaloa men were willing to do so. He stated definitely that they had nevei been asked to come out and that the Union did not intend to ask them at present In view of tlio unsettled state ol tho colliery industry at Newcastle and at Greymouth there have been numerous inquiries as to the attitude o the Coal Miners’ Unions in tho Westport district. So far as can bo aseci tamed the conditions are peaceful and iho outside disturbances are unlikely to affect colliery labour in the Westpoit distuct, except that the miners may possibly contribute funds to assist tho strikers. Tho miners havo boon assured that no coal will bo sent to Australia. Lie lations between the several managements and the men are amicable, any trivial questions being easy of settlement. Hie only standard grievance m the district is the medical examination, auu tiiat will be abolished next year, it is announced that negotiations foi a now agreement at Papa roa are proceeding satisfactorily, and in all likelihood the terms will bo amicably settled within a day or two. ’ .. ~ A contributed article in to-night s “Star” sheds rather an interesting light on the strike. A gentleman visited. Runanga, and writing his observations he says: — . . “ From the variety of opinions expressed there appears to bo a good deal of ignorance and considerable misapprehension on tho part of the men as to tho real cause of tho trouble. One man said: ‘This State mine is making a big profit at. our expense, and the profit goes into tlio pockets of the bloated capitalist.’ I remarked: that as the mine was owned by tho State, if there was any profit it would go into tho pockets of every man, woman and child in the dominion, and the miner himself would share tho benefit, llio more profit earned by the State mine tho less need would there be for taxes and Customs dues. * Well,’ said one man, ‘ we are not going to sweat ouisolves to pay fat salaries to Sir Joseph Ward and tho big bugs. The profits of tho State mine should go to the men who dig the coal.’ Tho moil evidentlyhave got tlio idea into their lioaas that the State mine is making enormous profits and the manager is grinding this profit out of their labour. When asked as to tho agreement under which they worked compared with , that of other mines the 111011 admitted that it was equal .if not superior to' 1 that ot a fly other coal mine in tho dominion with the exception of the trucking elauso, which is the cause of"tfad"'p Te * sent dispute. “ The next question I put to tho men was: ‘ How many extra truckers would bo required to take the coal away from tho face and so relievo tlio men of this work ?’ Tho reply was about twenty.’ . . . . “ ‘ And what would this amount to m wages annually?’ “ Roughly, about £3OOO. “You ask,then,a gift of £3OOO, and what do you propose to give in return? “ ‘Something tho management is not taking into consideration, namely, the extra output of coal. The time we waste now in trucking would then bo spent in bowing and filling tubs, and would increase tho earning power of the mine, as well as benefit ourselves r “ ‘ What is tho average wage at present earned by tho men?’ “ ‘ About 14s. The average for tlie past six months is, roughly, 14s. “ ‘ Why is one set of men able to earn more than another?’ ■, “ ‘ The reason is that periodically we cavil for places, and there is a great difference in the quality of the coal in different parts of the mine. Some places are much easier to work than others. It we can get an easy place and plenty ot tubs wo earn good money, but there are somo places whore the best workmen cannot earn more than tucker. “‘ls cavilling for places then un- “ ‘ No, it gives all an equal chance of the good places.’ , “ ‘What about the skill of the workman? When a good pair of men get a good place what wage can -they -earn ?., “ ‘ Sometimes as much' as £1 per day per man. A bad workman or a lazy man' will not earn wages in a good < j) 0 you think the strike will extend to other parts of tho dominion? “‘Yes we hope'that our cause will be taken up by all the minors in the dominion, and that the Govemment wil be forced into compliance with» our dom^‘ 1 ‘That would he a sad event for tlio dominion. A general strike just now when tho coal trade is brisk would spell disaster all over the dominion. « < Yes, we are well aware of that, and consequently, the Government will see the wisdom of paying to truck our “S.StlAi is takk 1 n rno P It is not the att-i----t7do "that would bo' taken up by sSsm proton to.dvof.to, the *. ti0 “‘ l Nev 1 e o r ll mfnd! l “in this world it is rruriieSf #'«£■£! take ,° Ik . a fter himself who will? d “ S ‘ SoUd“U then, in tho root ot the strike?’ . , “ ‘Certainly. un^AAleVfeelTng.

MASS MEETING TO BE HELD. [Per Press Association ] LuEYMOUTH, November 26. There is no change to report in conT- J.Oh the State mine strike and neCtl quiet ordflrly at the eveiy thing 5 ours that the* other townships. ~ are likely to come m T orS °“ and a resident of out a * e I*? form ed a reporter that ho Blackball > «rinca d jf would be veiy , mu Blackball men were not.out soon lho statement that the « been asked to come out has been de by tion, bu ' understanding arrived at before the State strike started, as is y i president s remarks th f°tho b Govern meat did not soon make a move, further pressure would be brought to bear. There is a very unsettled feeling on tho Coast, and it is no exaggeration to say tliat unless the Government and tho StaTe miners come to an early agreement the tiouble will assume a serious aspect. It s lepoited that a mass meeting will bo held in Greyniouth tomorrow. Some of tho members of the waterside workers do not agree with the statement that they have no sympathy with the strike. On application to the manager of the State mine, he stated there was nothing new to report.

A QUESTION IN IHE HOUSE. [From Ora Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. November 26. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr Wilford, on behalf of the member for Grey (the Hon A.K Guinness), asked what action the Government was taking, or intended to take,

for the promotion of a m n ett ,uhiors at tlio dispute in which 400 nuncis at Greymouth were involved. Mr T E. Tavlor roso to speak to tho question, but tlio Hon »• Minister of Mines) raised point ol order. Tho matter referred lo '. W contended, of such importance that duo notice of tho question should have been gl Tho Speaker ruled that the question could nolv be submitted to the I n, n° Minister with the indulgence ol tlio Sir Joseph Ward said that tlio matter was ono of such importance that ho was not prepared to reply to the question without duo notice being given. me position was quite a clear one as tar as the Government was concerned, but while quite willing to place tho matter before tho House he could not do so without notice. Had ho known that tlio question was going to be raised that afternoon he would havo had tlio papers and particulars available placed before him, and afforded tlie honourable member tho information required.

OPINIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH. BIG TROUBLE NOT EXPECTED. EXAGGERATED REPORTS FROM GREYMOUTH. No fresh news was received by coal merchants in Christchurch yesterday, and nono of them have been advised that the disturbance is likely to spread to other mines. The general feeling in tho city is one of easiness. There aro largo stocks here, aud it is expected that, unless tho executive of tho Miners’ Federation declares a general strike, there will not bo much difficulty in meeting tlio demands. Orders aro still steadily coming into the merchants’ offices, the State office receiving a largo share of tho attention. “ A run?” said ono agent yesterday; “it’s a gallop with us.” Business, in fact, has seldom boon brisker in coal in Christchurch, and if tho volumo continued in. normal times tlio merchants would soon he wealthy men.

Tho alarming reports in regard to the Brunner, Blackball and Paparoa mines, published yesterday, aro looked upon as exaggerations. It is reported that “at Blackball things aro not so bright,” that there is a strong feeling there in favour of tho State miners, and that it is freely rumoured that tho Blackball men will ceaso work on Saturday. Tho officors of the Blackball Coal Company, which has its headquarters in Christchurch, contradict these statements. They say that their company is . working amicably under an award, and that there has never been any illfeeling whatever. To-day will bo a holiday undor tho award at tho mine, as it is tho annual feto day. All work will cease, and the minors and their frionds will give themselves up to amusement. It is supposed that some of tho minors havo taken advantage of this fact to work upon the credulity of tho Press Association’s agent at Greymouth, and have led him to believe that tho cessation of work will be a strike.