COAL-MINERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 167, 17 July 1920, Page 5

COAL-MINERS

HOPEFUL VIEWS ON LABOR

' SUPPLY.

[fkoji oub correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 16. The Prime Minister was given a very interesting insight into a practical coal-miner's .view off the shortage of ioal during the course of a deputation urging the c-onnpk iion of the -Buller Gorge railway. Tho ch-iir-norr of .tin* Buller County Council (Mi V>". H. Meintyro), who> described, liimsoli as a. practical mine]-, suggested that to say that coal was short owing to the scarcity of labor whs only halt' tlie truth. There wo-ro plenty of minors. Ho could put his hand on 150 skilled miners on the Wellington wharf alone. It was the same in the flux-mills and tiinbormiils. The living conditions were so inhospitable, and i,t took so long getting to the working face, that men would not put up with* the difficulties. On the- hills of DenniEton ajpd Millerton "it was impossible td get education beyond the primary stage. .If tho Buller eoalfisids were developed men could bo easily carried by train from West-port. Suck an improvement in conditions would draw men back from tho wharves. As a. ni:iitter of fuct tho slight recent improvements resulted in men dnirting batk. Mr Massey: "I am glad to hear it.'' '"I can assure you, Mr Mafsey, that the miner is a very hi dependent gentleman,'' continued " the speaker. ''Once hi the inin<j hei is his own boss, except for the Coal Mines Act, which he breaks as often aa possible.'"' (Ltiughteri.

Mr Massey: "Aaid ho g^t.s plenty of opportunities?" Mr Molntyre: "Yes; the Act prow vides tho best 'go-slow' 'policy that he ever had in his life. If he observed it tlio output would be reduced onethird. We have to break it to earn our living, simply because the men who make tho laws governing these things are not practical." Mr Melntyre added a words ill favor of the co-operative system of mining, under which ten men working an abandoned Stata mine at Scddonviille produced 50 tons a day and thero was no "go slow." Mr A. S. Malcolm informed the Prim© Minister that tho previous, speaker's views wero not extreme. Ho liacl* questioned coiL-owners on tho Coast and found that thefee !?taitement's regarding working conditions were correct. They wero agreed that the opening up of mines in convenient places easily reached would result in a great increase in coal production.

"I am glad to hew what has been said abort the miners," remarked the Prime Minister in the co.urce of his reply. "I am glad to hear tiio^ Bro~ f<?,£3i<jnal auners who/ wore engaged in other occupations &re gradually drift?, ing lack tc the Co;\st, i a:^ g] ii( i { a Leal1 that tho e6^pei';utivo< system is successful, and no far as the Government "is concerned wo consider ;t worthy of all possible encouragement, and it will get it." *'Iv has been demonstrated that small parties of co-operative workers can work thzs> coal easily," said the Hon. Mr Ooates, Minister for Public WorKs. "This is a very good argument in favor of constructing the line." ' '■•'.